With tears of joy and bittersweet emotion, friends and family gathered to celebrate the 60 students of the graduating class of 2019, Saturday, June 8.

“Because of you, we got here,” ASB president Jayna Ott told the audience as she introduced the class, and welcomed and thanked the loving the community.

Jaclyn Domenich and Maxwell Mattox commenced the graduation with the class history, a Wolverine tradition detailing when each graduating student arrived at the school, and where they came from.

The class motto was “I am ready to face any challenge that might be foolish enough to face me,” Dwight Schute, a character from the sitcom The Office.

Kathrine (Katy) Kulseth, co-valedictorian, explained that the chosen motto summed up her class, with its confidence and humor, in her speech “Recipe for Success.” She said the class of 2019 has both of those qualities in spades.

“Anyone who knows this class is familiar with our sense of humor,” She said.

More than 34 businesses, nonprofits and foundations awarded a grand total of $244,150, in scholarships with a few renewable ones that would raise the amount if students reapply and meet requirements, according to Jannet Ortiz Friday Harbor High school registrar and office manager.

“An additional $105,000 is pledged to awardees that renew their scholarship throughout their college career and continue to meet the requirements,” she said.

Principal Fred Woods thanked the donors for recognizing the importance of education and noted that each award will make a huge difference in the recipient’s life.

“The endless outpouring of support, in sports and other events, I can’t thank the community enough,” Lucy Urbach, co-valedictorian, said in her speech, titled “In This Together.”

After Urbach’s talk, the class slideshow comprised of photos of each senior from when they were infants, children and young adults was shown. The slideshow was junior Payton Malloy’s community service project.

Diplomas were then handed out, and the class threw their caps.

“Congratulations class of 2019, we did it!” Urbach said.