By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
From Bruno Emanuel Acosta Andrade to Xavier Lennex Zuniga, Great Bend High School celebrated 220 graduates during Sunday’s 139th Annual Commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium. Perfect weather held for the outdoor ceremony, which lasted just over an hour. GBHS Principal Brock Funke provided some departing wisdom to the Class of 2026.
“No one will ever win argument on Facebook or any other social media platform,” Funke said. “Do not waste your time trying to change other people's opinions. It’s not going to happen. No one has ever changed their mind because of an argument on social media. No one has ever said, ‘You know that, that stranger with the Minions profile picture, he really opened my eyes today.’”
Funke also referenced retired University of Alabama football Coach Nick Saban: If you want to be good, you don’t have a lot of choices because it takes what it takes. Funke reminded each graduate it is up to him or her to determine the future.
The Class of 2026 featured co-valedictorians Allie Gerhardt and Katherine Mazouch. In her speech, Gerhardt said success may not be about having all the answers. Sometimes, it’s about asking the questions.
“Success isn’t about how fast you get somewhere, it’s about who you become along the way,” she said. “As we leave here today, we’ll be surrounded by definitions of success: titles, salaries, and achievements. Those things may matter, but they don’t define your worth. Your worth is defined by your character, by how you treat people, by how you handle challenges when no one is watching.”
With this year’s Commencement falling on Mother’s Day, Mazouch thanked all the mothers for making a difference in the lives of graduates. She said success in life is not only about grades, wins, accomplishments, or milestones.
“Those may open doors, but they do not define who are you,” she said. “What truly matters is something far less celebrated and commended: how you make people feel and the impact you leave on others.”
Senior Class President MacKenzie Lindberg opened ceremonies with the Pledge of Allegiance. The seven members of the USD 428 Board of Education, along with Superintendent Khris Thexton, handed out diplomas and handshakes to each of the graduates as they crossed the stage.
