Colby and Abbotsford to hold graduations this weekend

For the first time in a long time, Colby High School will be graduating their senior class before Abbotsford High School as both sets of seniors enter their post-high school careers this weekend.

Colby

The Colby High School Class of 2024 will send 72 seniors into adulthood on Friday, May 17 with their graduation ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. on the football field and track pending the cooperation of the weather.

Parker Johnson is the class’s valedictorian while Joseph Streveler is the salutatorian.

Johnson plans to attend UW-Madison and major in neurobiology. His parents are Lyle and Katie Johnson.

Streveler does not have a plan for after high school as of yet. His parents are Brian and Sara Streveler.

The 2024 class motto is, “Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart,” a line from musical artist, Drake. The class flower is the white rose.

Abbotsford

Abbotsford High School will hand out 61 diplomas to members of the graduating class of 2024 on Saturday, May 18. The commencement ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the North Gym. The valedictorian for the class of 2024 is Blake Bargender. Bargender kept busy throughout his high school career, participating in co-curricular activities including National Honor Society, Mathletes and Safe School Ambassadors. He was also a member of the football and basketball and is currently on the baseball team. He has been actively involved by helping with the Abbotsford Christmas Parade, Future Falcon Basketball youth camps, Abby Heat Baseball/Softball youth camps and church-related events.

Bargender will be attending UW-River Falls to study civil engineering and play baseball. His parents are Ryan

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and Brooke Bargender.

The co-salutatorians are Sydney Falteisek and Sommer Brodhagen.

Falteisek participated in co-curricular activities including: National Honor Society, Student Senate, Safe School Ambassador, FCCLA, FBLA, and show choir. She was also a member of the volleyball and basketball teams and is still on the track and field team.

She has been actively involved by helping with Red Cross blood drives, Salvation Army bell ringing, the Abbotsford Christmas Parade, middle school math tutoring, concession stand, alumni tournament and Special Olympics winter games volunteer. After graduation, she plans to begin her nursing degree through Northcentral Technical College in Wausau.

She is the daughter of Krista Keech and Darel Falteisek.

Sommer Brodhagen, daughter of Eric and Timoly Brodhagen, is the co-salutatorian of Abbotsford High School class of 2024.

Sommer has excelled academically while carrying a rigorous class schedule and maintaining a 3.993 GPA, including NTC college credit classes during her high school career. She has held leadership roles in extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, Student Senate, FBLA, and yearbook. She is an all conference and all state academic three sport athlete who participated and captained her volleyball and basketball teams and participated at state in track and field. Brodhagen has found a love of volunteerism through spring cleanup, organizing club fundraisers and participation in the Abbotsford Christmas & Cheese Days Parades. She also coached youth volleyball and basketball athletes and taught swim lessons.

Sommer is enrolled at UW-Eau Claire in the fall to study Business.

Falteisek

Brodhagen