High school science teacher Jeff Dock was the keynote speaker and shared one of the many quotes he has hanging in his classroom.
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle, when the sun comes up you'd better be running," unknown author.
He explained why he chose the quote.
"Life is too short. You better be running," he said.
He said the gazelle represents the survival aspect of life - the tough part of life. "Life happens and it doesn't always go as we want it to go," he said.
Dock said that's just reality and everyone will face it.
The lion lives life in control and on the hunt. "Find your passion and keep hunting. When something comes along, don't waste time. Just go for it," he said.
"Embrace experiences. They are your story and you are in the driver's seat now," he said.
Senior Hayley Bashore offered a similar message reminding her classmates it's up to them to find their passions and achieve their own dreams.
"Community is an understated commodity," she said and she encouraged her classmates to take an active role in being part of a community and getting involved to help others.
She also noted there must be a balance between helping others and living for yourself.
"I beg you to put yourself out there and seek out opportunities," said Bashore. "You don't have to like everything you try, but you will narrow down what you love and you'll have found your own community."
She said students should find what they are passionate about and go out and do it.
"Each of us has the potential to go out and do great things. We need the courage and tenacity to try," Bashore said.
Senior valedictorian Rachael Gorton introduced the commencement ceremonies thanking her classmates and all the family, friends and teachers who helped the class over the last 13 years get to this point.
Senior Alex Wilkinson introduced Dock as a popular teacher who was recently named the new varsity football coach, has coached many other sports, is the Young Life sponsor, and has a passion for teaching and seeing his students learn. She called him "the man, the myth, the legend - Mr. Jeff Dock."
Luke Noah offered the closing comments again thanking everyone for the memories made at TKHS, friendships, and guidance. "I encourage you all to live life to the fullest," he said.
Breanna Bouchard led the class in the ceremonial moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other symbolizing the move from student to graduate.
The roll of the class of 2017 was read as each student accepted their diploma from members of the board of education and handshakes from Superintendent Tom Enslen and high school principal Tony Petersen. And when the last name was called out - ironically a student named Tomas Kaboos - family and friends let out the cheers in the gymnasium.
Students tossed their caps in the air, raised their arms in a sign of celebration, and marched out of the gymnasium one last time to the band playing the school fight song.