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DAYTON–This year will definitely be one to remember as the Dayton High School Class of 2020 graduates with Kylee Laughlin as valedictorian and Kira Boggs as salutatorian.

Commencement exercises will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2020, but with a coronavirus twist: graduates and family members will be in personal automobiles and will process to 3rd Street in front of Pietrzycki High School, which will be closed to other traffic between School Bus Lane and Park Street. Another vehicle carrying additional family members will be allowed to accompany the graduate's vehicle. Local law enforcement and members of the Dayton Kiwanis Club will assist with traffic control.

Principal Kristina Brown will conduct the ceremony, which will be carried over a public address and streamed on Facebook.

The Valedictory Address by Kylee Laughlin will be given, followed by Salutatorian Kira Boggs's speech. Addresses will be given by portable microphone from the individual's vehicles. Both addresses will be published in the June 11 edition of the Dayton Chronicle.

Following the commencement speeches, Principal Brown will call each of the 15 student's name to approach the podium and receive their diploma. Brown will also announce the scholarships being received by the graduate. After receiving their diploma, the graduate will have his or her photo taken and then return to their vehicle.

Valedictorian Kylee Laughlin will finish her high-school career with a 3.99 G.P.A. Laughlin, the daughter of Rhonda Peterson and David Peterson of Dayton, plans to attend Washington State University and study criminology and criminal justice.

Laughlin was a busy young lady in her four years of high school, being named for numerous honors, serving in leadership positions, participating in plenty of activities and still finding time to volunteer and work at a part-time job.

In academics, Laughlin was Student of the Month last November, was a regular on the 4.0 grade list and Honor Roll. As a junior, she received award certificates for biology, advanced algebra and world history.

She Participated in Citizen's University as a junior and also visited Washington, D.C. via the local Kiwanis Club's Road to Leadership Program that year.

Athletics was one of her favorite activities, playing basketball, fast-pitch softball and cheer. She received a varsity letter in softball in each of her three seasons, and also lettered in basketball as a sophomore and in cheer her freshman, sophomore and junior years. On Cheer Squad, Laughlin was Most Valuable in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and as a freshman, was Cheer's Most Dedicated. She received the WIAA Sportsmanship Award in softball last season.

Leadership activities also consumed a fair bit of Laughlin's time. This year alone, Laughlin was ASB Secretary, Class treasurer, National Honor Society treasurer, and Youth and Government President. She was Lip Sync Coordinator (2016-19), Cheer Varsity Captain (2017-19), Y&G Vice Chair (2017-2019) and Y&G Secretary (2018-19).

Laughlin was prolific in school activities, which included: Outdoor Club (2020), Softball (2015-20), Youth and Government (2016-20), National Honor Society (NHS) (2017-20), Football Cheer (2017-19), FFA (2018-19), 4-H (2015-2018), Knowledge Bowl (2016-18), basketball (2016-17), basketball cheer (2015-16), and volleyball (2016).

Volunteer activities included Boys & Girls Club, sandbagging during the February, 2020, flooding, organizing school supply closets, ban concert, Kid's Zone at the Fair, PTSO Carnival, Kiwanis Turkey Bingo, American Legion Ham Bingo, National Honor Society, Citizen's University Project, Dayton Booster Club Upper Deck dinners, 5 Days in Dayton and Students Helping Each Other (SHEO).

Since her junior year to the present, Laughlin has also worked at Chief Spring's Brew Pub and Pizza.

Salutatorian Kira Boggs finished her academic career with a 3.98 G.P.A. at D.H.S. and a 3.97 at Walla Walla Community College. Boggs is the daughter of Joe Nieto and Tammy Nieto of Dayton and is planning to attend Grand Canyon University to study for a B.S. in Nursing, with a focus on leadership and a minor in Spanish. After those achievements, she intends on earning a master's degree.

Boggs also was very busy during her high-school years. She was active in FFA, National Honor Society, Associated Student Body (ASB), athletics, Youth and Government, student life and Road to Leadership.

Boggs was FFA Vice President as a senior, treasurer as a junior and reporter as a sophomore in addition to winning first in district in Ag Sales.

Leadership positions in her class and ASB included Senior Class Vice President, ASB president as a senior and vice president as a junior, and Public Relations Assistant her sophomore year. She was class president as a sophomore, junior and senior. In NHS, Boggs was tapped in 2018 and this year served the organization as secretary. She was Head Chair for Youth and Government.

Around campus, Boggs was an Academic All Star (KLEW) last December and Student of the Month, August, 2019.

In athletics, she received the Coach's Award, Scholar-Athlete award and Captain as a junior.

In the community, she attended the Kiwanis Road to Leadership/Washington D.C. trip in 2018 and attended American Legion Girls State last summer.

-Submitted photo

Kira Boggs

A long list of volunteer activities fills Boggs's spare time. Organizations that benefited or activities she helped include: Boys and Girls Club, Kiwanis Turkey Bingo, T.V. Soccer referee, Booker Rest Home activities assistant, Sixth Grade Camp, Band Concert, directing traffic at parades, Dayton Kiwanis and Dayton Lions Club customer service, running the clock at JV and middle school games, and volunteering for the Dayton Booster Club Upper Deck feeds.

Boggs may also be a familiar face at the local Subway sandwich franchise at Dayton Mercantile.

Members of the Class of 2020 include: Kira Mary Elaine Boggs, Mckenzie Renee Dobbs, Jurnee Mariah Griffen, Alex Logan Jenkins, Kylee Sue Laughlin, David Jay Lewis, Kiya Lee McCaw, Marissa Carin Mings, Carlos Ruben Norris, Lillian Marie Patterson, Quintin Cordel Rapoza, Sergio Rivera, Tayven James Seney, Elise Noelle Steinhoff and Josiah J. White. Marissa Carin Mings is also a member of the graduating class but has opted not to walk.