FROM PRESCHOOLERS TO SENIORS, MARATHON CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2023

By
Alex Rickert
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Principal Wendy McPherson, right, congratulates Marathon Middle School eighth graders as they prepare for their official high school careers.

Waves of blue and white cascaded over Marathon last week as students from preschool to high school seniors celebrated their commencement ceremonies. Following a Take Stock in Children graduation and a Class Night that saw local businesses and community organizations shower graduates with more than $1.6 million in scholarships, the Class of 2023 officially crossed the stage as Marathon High School students on May 25. That same morning, Stanley Switlik fifth graders celebrated their Moving Up ceremony, while Marathon Middle School eighth graders made room for the incoming elementary students at their own graduation the night before.

From all of us at the Keys Weekly Newspapers, congratulations to all students who celebrated the next step in their academic journeys in the Class of 2023.

Principal Wendy McPherson, right, congratulates Marathon Middle School eighth graders as they prepare for their official high school careers.
Seniors Casey Horvat, left, Nick Higgins, Jack Horvat and Billy Martin deliver a four-part vocal performance of the national anthem.
Congratulations, Class of 2023. You did it!
An adorable Class of 2023 from the Community Cooperative Preschool celebrates their graduation at the Marathon Community Theatre.
An adorable Class of 2023 from the Community Cooperative Preschool celebrates their graduation at the Marathon Community Theatre.
Preschooler Amy Reyes, center, tells her crowd of fans her plans for when she grows up. She wants to be a firefighter, and she’s ‘ready for kindergarten!’
The Marathon Chamber of Commerce hands out scholarships to eight MHS seniors at Class Night.

Strutting Their Stuff

The Class of 2023 didn’t miss their chance to make a statement in their last moments on stage as students. From selfies to backflips and every dance move in between, here were some of the best on Thursday night.

Class Night 2023 – Photos by Barry Gaukel

Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.

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