HTC seniors throw caps Sunday

FORT MADISON – The Holy Trinity Catholic graduating Class of 2026 was small and the commencement was truncated, but the messages were powerful and well received.
The 16 seniors that walked across the stage Sunday afternoon in Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison moved tassels after hearing from Class President Presley Myers, Instructor John Goetz, principal Craig Huebner, and the traditional look back from Valedictorian Brock Scheetz. More than half the graduates were part of the National Honor Society.
Isabella Behne earned class salutatorian.
Parents received flowers and hugs as the graduates crossed the stage and then walked through the audience to standing parents waiting with tears and arms out.
Goetz, who served as the system’s Activities Director for close to two decades, offered emotional and mostly humorous anecdotes from his time with the tight-knit system.
“This is the moment you’ve worked for, grown toward, and probably wondered if it would ever arrive,” Goetz said.
“Standing before you, I’ve had the privilege of seeing you from many different perspectives. As a math teacher, I watched you wrestle with problems, search for solutions, and try to solve my extra credit problems.
“As your athletic director and coach, I’ve seen you compete, support one another, and represent your school with pride.”

He said the students will find times where the solution isn’t obvious and the path is uncertain, but what they learned at HTC goes beyond solving problems.
“You’ve learned mistakes are not failures, they are part of the process. You’ve learned how to think, how  to persevere, and keep working when the answers don’t come easy. Some of the best lessons don’t come from getting it right the first time,” Goetz said.
On the fields and courts, Goetz said he saw the students overcome challenges daily and the lessons that come with that process.
“Winning teaches confidence, losing teaches character.”
Scheetz  said it’s hard to believe the seniors are finishing their high school careers.
“What makes the day more special than any other accomplishment is that, for many of us, it wasn’t just four years of high school together. We grew up together. Many of us have stood side-by-side since kindergarten,” he said.
“The people you are sitting with, they didn’t just watch you grow up, they helped shape the person you are today. They saw every phase, the good, the bad, the awkward. Because we spent practically our entire lives together. We’ve also made many unforgettable memories together.”
Scheetz thanked all those that helped get them through their school career, including teachers, administrators, and parents.