Dayton Class of 2023 Commencement Saturday

DAYTON–Seventeen seniors at Pietrzycki High School will walk in the 2023 Commencement Exercises this Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Dayton Gymnasium. The pomp and circumstance will begin at 1 p.m.

The valedictorian of the Class of 2023 is Benny Bryan and the salutatorian will be Sarah Shutters. Both will be addressing the commencement.

Bryan is the son of Paul and Ginger Bryan of Dayton. His future plans are to attend Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont., and earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, minoring in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management.

While attending Dayton and a year at Walla Walla High School, Bryan attained a 3.9 G.P.A.

He was active in football, basketball, Robotics, Outdoor Club, Knowledge Bowl, FFA and National Honor Society. He served as president of the Outdoor Club and was a class officer.

Bryan has been named Student of the Month, Scout Player of the Year as a sophomore on the football team, and was a captain of the basketball team this season. He received the Coach's Award.

Shutters is the daughter of Linda Weistaner of Dayton and the late Marvin Shutters. She has maintained a busy high-school and extra-curricular career, not only participating extensively in school activities but also in the community as she directs her future to performance arts.

She received the 2022 Blue Mountain Community Foundation Rising Star Youth Award.

She has been a Student of the Month, a teacher's assistant, attended WWCC, yearbook staff and studied digital art. Shutters was on Knowledge Bowl, was a varsity cheerleader for four years, participated in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), played in the pep and concert bands, and was vice president of the National Honor Society.

Community activities are almost too numerous to mention, but include volunteering to sing at Booker Rest Home, helping with church day camps, and a number of service-club volunteer stints.

Shutters has music, voice and dance training, and numerous experiences in performances, including directing the Touchet Valley Arts council's performance of "The Sound of Music."

Members of the Class of 2022 include Nathan Benaiah Bryan, Norbert Cush, Brandy Maylynn Davis, Madison Jean Gallardo, Milena Therese Gemmell, Shania Lynn Fay, Elijah Lee Lanum, Dan Magill-Katsel, Xane Everett McManamon, Joseph Patterson, Logan Ray Potter, Hudson Jay Reser, Emily Elise Rodrick, Sarah Mei Shutters, Genesee Elizabeth Smith, Eve Marie Talbott and Vaughn Logan Walter.

Honor graduates for the Class of 2023 are Bryan, Shutters, Vaughn Walter, Hudson Reser and Emily Rodrick, all of whom achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.