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Thunder grads urged to“ find the right tools” for their futures
JOSH MONIZ Community Editor
The Zimmerman High School Class of 2025 was urged Tuesday night to“ find the right tools” to help them navigate their futures during the keynote address at their graduation ceremony.
After the seating of the 161 graduates was completed, the Zimmerman High School Band, directed by David Kaiser, performed“ Pomp and Circumstance,” and the school’ s Concert Choir, directed by Samantha Walters, performed the“ Star Spangled Banner.” Then, District 728 Superintendent Andy Almos gave the introductory welcome.
“ This ceremony marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another,” Almos said while praising the graduates for their accomplishments.
Three students gave speeches to their fellow graduates.
High Honors student Bode Zahler started with a quote from famous chef and author Anthony Bourdain.
“ If I am an advocate for anything, it’ s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’ s shoes, or at least eat their food, is a plus for everyone,” Bode repeated.
He urged his fellow graduates to remember Bourdain’ s words when they face stress or pressure in the next stage of their lives and to“ stay moving, do not become stationary.”
“ If you never try anything new. If you never take any risk. If you let yourself get crushed by the pressure. If we allow ourselves to stop. If we become stationary. That is when our lives can become mundane,” Bode said.“ We lose focus on ourselves and our goals. Time passes. We get stuck in a cycle of stress and compromise.
“ Find life and beauty in the everyday. Continue to learn... And finally, please order the things on the menu that you cannot pronounce.”
Student Council member and High Honors student Keira Gulickson pushed back against common sayings to graduates like“ Welcome to the real world!” or“ High school is a breeze, just
The Zimmerman High School Class of 2026 threw their mortarboards into the air at the conclusion of their graduation ceremony Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
wait until you start working!” She argued that even as students, they have already been navigating the world.
“ Nobody gets a warm-up or a practice run before real life starts. You are in it up to your neck from day one,” Gulickson said.
She urged graduates to think about the moments when they struggled so much they couldn’ t see a way forward but showed
resilience anyways, still getting up for school, meeting their expectations and persevering through to graduation.
“ As you move further through life and the doubts of succeeding start filling your head, I encourage you to remember that you’ ve already been living real life. You’ ve been getting
See ZIMMERMAN | PAGE 6
ERIK JACOBSON
Student speaker Bode Zahler delivers his“ Never Stop Moving” speech Tuesday, June 2, 2026, during graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026.
ERIK JACOBSON
Student speaker Keira Gulickson delivers her“ This is Real Life” speech Tuesday, June 2, 2026, during graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026.
ERIK JACOBSON
Student speaker Evan Sutherland gave his“ How to Ruin Your Life” speech Tuesday, June 2, 2026, during graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026.