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Photo essay: farewell to Loveland class of 2017

Jul 1, 2017

By Sam Smith

On June 3, the 2017 Loveland High School class celebrated their commencement at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. Many of the 373 students who graduated have achieved impressive feats through their high school career, and will now enter into a new stage of life. This ceremony symbolized that step. 160 received honor diplomas.

**A group of musicians perform a soundcheck before the ceremony. Top, from left: August Lamson, Jane Pearson, Jacalyn Parsley. Bottom, from left: Drew Docherty, Brady Dotson, Brady Funke.**

**Senior, Sophia Sperry, prepares with the rest of the Loveland Band before graduation.**

Ryan Rofles, Tyler Dixon, Jack Stanley and Cameron Price pose before entering the Xavier Cintas center. Rofles, Dixon and Stanley will be attending University of Cincinnati. Price will be joining the US Navy.

Jacalyn Parsley and Jane Pearson pose before entering graduation. Parsley and Pearson anchored together on the Loveland daily school news, LHSNN. Parsley was named both homecoming and prom queen her senior year. Pearson was active in Show Choir and student government, founded and ran crochet club, and was Class President.

**Band director Geoffrey Miller conducts as guests enter the Cintas Center**

**Mitch Robison welcomed everyone to the commencement Robinson has been active in athletics, and was a standout player on the basketball team. Robinson will be attending Indiana University.**

**Lucy Rawson stands with her peers for the national anthem. Rawson will be attending Western Kentucky University.**

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The Loveland Senior Ensemble performs

Jacalyn Parsley sings

Erica Perl sings with choir. Perl was a writer and editor for the school newspaper, The Roar, an active member of the yearbook committee and Show Choir. Perl will be attending the University of Cincinnati to pursue marketing.

**Sam Faingold gave the Introduction of Guests. Faingold was active in the school yearbook committee and will be attending Ohio State.**

**Jane Pearson speaks to the class of 2017. Pearson was Class President, and will be attending Brigham Young University. Watch her speech here.**

Co-salutatorians, Rachel Ingal (left) and Julia Dillhoff (right) speak to their peers and family. Ingal was a member of Show Choir and founded and ran the High School Democrats of America club. Ingal will be attending Notre Dame. Dillhoff played Lacrosse and was recently recognized at the spring sports awards for her performance. Dillhoff will also be attending Notre Dame. **Watch their unique speech here.**

**Aaron Autin plays guitar during the creative co-salutatorian speech. Autin was one of the top bowlers for Loveland, and will be attending Miami University.**

**Rachel Ingal and Margaret Eilert singing Phil Collins “You’ll be in my heart”.**

Rachel Ingal and Margaret Eilert, sing during the graduation ceremony. Both were members of Show Choir. Eilert was awarded the Maegly Music Scholarship, was named best female soloist in the National Show Choir competition and was first violin in chamber orchestra. Eilert will be attending Capital University.

**Valedictorian, Ali Syed, speaks to the graduating class. Syed plans to attend the University of Alabama and then Northeast Ohio Medical University.** **Watch his speech here.**

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Brady Funke plays guitar to the John Mayer song “Stop This Train”

Jane Pearson, Abby Hickey and Jacalyn Parsley singing “Stop this Train”.

August Lamson, Jane Pearson, Abby Hickey, Jacalyn Parsley, Drew Docherty, Brady Dotson and Brady Funke perform.

Brady Funke and Brady Dotson celebrate after finishing their performance.

**Principal Peggy Johnson speaks to the class of 2017 about their accomplishments and their future. Watch her speech here.**

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Senior, Wyatt French, performs with the Loveland Band.

Niki Fiorenza watches classmates perform. Fiorenza has been active in Showband and was an editor and writer for the school newspaper. Fiorenza will be attending Ohio University for media.

Superintendent Chad Hilliker speaks to the class of 2017. Hilliker will be graduating with this year’s students as he moves on to his next endeavor after years of serving the district and community. **Read his speech here.**

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Jon Parker graduates. Parker was the photo editor for the school newspaper and has been artistically involved in the Loveland community. Parker helped found the Loveland Film Club and has starred in two short films written and directed by his classmates. He plans to attend Ohio University to study media.

Jacob Payzant hugs a teacher. Payzant has been musically active. Payzant will be attending the University of Cincinnati.

Cole Behrens graduates. Behrens was an editor for the school newspaper and was politically active. Behrens was the founder of Coffee Club and will be attending Ohio Univerity to study journalism.

Hunter MacAfee graduates. MacAfee has been involved in the Cincinnati scottish community and is a bagpipe player. MacAfee will be attending Ohio University.

Maya Earl graduates. Earl was voted most artistic by her peers and awarded a $1000 scholarship by the Loveland Arts Council. Earl will be attending the DAAP program at the University of Cincinnati.

**James Meckey stands surrounded by falling confetti. Meckey played football, and will be attending Centre College.**

**Kelsey Blanchard begins to leave the Cintas center as confetti falls.**

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Drew Docherty leaves the Cintas Center. Docherty will be attending Indiana University.

Jack Sexton leaves the stadium. Sexton will be attending Ohio University.

Riley Becker walks down the hallway out of the Cintas center.

Jacob Clements walks down the hall to leave graduation. Clements was a baseball, lacrosse and football player.

Teachers and faculty, surrounded by confetti, watch student leave.

Graduation was, in most ways, just a symbolic step towards the future of these hundreds of students. But it was an important step, and a time to reflect on the numerous successes of the class of 2017. The talent, dedication and passion demonstrated by students of the class have been clearly demonstrated through the list of accomplishments that go along with every graduate. Through academics, arts, athletics and community involvement, individuals of the Loveland class of 2017 have made an effort to strengthen Loveland and build a culture. As these impressive many continue on their trend of high aspirations, there is no doubt that they can positively impact their community and the world as a whole.