Northport Public School honored its three seniors, Dashel Courson, Nayeli Martinelli, and Grace Oskaboose, as part of the 2024 graduating class on Friday evening. While the seniors were one of the smallest graduating classes in Leelanau County this year, the district also started a new annual tradition to celebrate the youngest generation at Northport, honoring the first group of kindergartners, the class of 2036, with a graduation ceremony just before the seniors received diplomas.
“This year we welcome a new tradition,” said Northport Superintendent Neil Wetherbee at the ceremony Friday. “In addition to the class of 2036, I’d like to welcome another special class, the 50th reunion class (the class of 1974)… It is incredibly special to celebrate the class of ‘74, ‘24, and ‘36 — more than 60 years of legacy all in one night.”
The 10 kindergartners as part of the class of 2036 that were honored include: Gianna Anderson, Evan Banks, Jayla Bressette, Mason Brown, Emma Delafuente, Wren Dignan, Kenzie Erlandson, Adrian Espinoza, Porter King, and Mauricio Southbird. Peter Morio, Northport principal, gave the kindergarten graduation speech send off to the young class.
“You have learned to read and write, count, but most importantly, look to your left and look to your right — you’ve made great friends. Now look behind you. In 12 short years, you’ll be sitting there looking at the kindergartners in front of you,” Morio said. “Kindergartners, the Northport staff wants to congratulate you on completing your first year at Northport Public School.”
Northport senior, Dashel Courson, gave the class address, highlighting not just the small class, but the experiences and mentors that helped them grow over the years.
“I’m honored to be speaking to you today to address the graduating class of 2024. Like the size of our class list, I’ll keep it short and sweet,” Courson said. “I feel like your first days of kindergarten are similar to your last years of high school in that you are about to start a new chapter of your life… I would like to thank my classmates for hanging in and sticking out at Northport public school, it can’t get much smaller than this. I’d like to thank all the teachers and staff as well for their kindness, patience, and professionalism. Going forward, I wish the class of 2024 success in all they would like to do in this world, and as we have all learned from the KLT rock station, “‘don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling.’”
