Shorecrest's 49th Commencement: Grads Say They are the Change We Wish to See

’s 49th Commencement exercises at Comcast Arena in Everett held Sunday gave the school’s graduates time to reflect and celebrate after the finishing up their high school careers last week.

The school’s 343 graduates entered the arena as the Shorecrest Band played Pomp and Circumstance. Many of the students had colorfully decorated mortar boards with glitter and stickers, often representing a cause, such as don’t eat meat or a college.

Following an address to the seniors by Shorecrest Principal Pat Hegarty, senior Elliot Fisher performed Frédéric Chopin’s “Nocturne in C# Minor.”

Superintendent Sue Walker and School Board President Debi Ehrlichman each gave the same versions of their speeches at both the Shorecrest and Shorewood graduations. Walker urged to students to have gratitude and thanked them. Ehrlichman told the audience that most people wouldn’t recall her speech mentioning that her son didn’t recall who spoke at his graduation. Ehrlichman also referred to a quote from the late Apple founder Steve Jobs, encouraging students to follow their dreams despite doubts and doubters.

Shorecrest’s four senior speakers, Ian Adams, Kitty Jones, Sierra Alef-Defoe and Vanessa Ford addressed the audience and reminded everyone that the class had raised money for cancer research, spoken out against domestic violence, global tragedies, for the 99 percent and more.

“We have been and will forever be the change you wish to see in the world,” they said in unison.

Hye-Ree Oh sang and Gabe Ortega sang and played piano for a duet of, “Somewhere Only We Know,” by Keane.

Associated Student Body President Skylar Shibayama led a moment of applause to celebrate the life of Tiana Montgomery, a Shorecrest senior who was caught in the crossfire of a dispute and gunned down in Shoreline’s Hillwood neighborhood on May 16.

“Students came together to grieve the loss of our classmate and friend,” one of the student speakers said.

Her accused killer Joseph Cooley eventually turned himself in and is being held in the King County Jail on $2 million bail.

School Board members then handed out diplomas as two pairs of graduating seniors read the names. At the end of the ceremony, the students threw their caps in the air and walked out of the arena in foursomes off to meet their family and friends.