The 2018 graduates of Burlingame High School toss their hats in celebration. Photo by Keri Welch.

Attending graduation ceremonies at Burlingame High School is almost like hanging out with your family, as pointed out by the 2018 salutatorian Fallon Tyson.

Tyson joined with her two fellow valedictorians, Dalton Sporing and Tristan Lee, in good conversation and good company as they gathered with graduates and their families and well wishers, Saturday afternoon, May 12, 2018, at the elementary school gymnasium.

In her salutatorian speech, Tyson pointed out how her school family and good memories developed over the years.

“For most of us, we have grown up here in this building together,” Tyson said. “This has been like a second home to us, and my classmates have become like my family.”

“I would never wish these years away, and honestly my only wish is that they wouldn’t have went by so fast,” she said. “However, I am beyond grateful that we made the most out of our time together, and created memories that will last a lifetime.”

She spoke about the fun and enjoyment of school, along with personal stories that each student collected over the years.

“[E]veryone has their own unique story to tell,” she said. “I’m excited to see how each of you experience the rest of your journeys, and how amazing your stories will end.”

She advised her classmates to continue their lives by creating “new friendships, and experience new adventures and opportunities. Make the most of these moments, and face them head on. My advice to you is to make an impact in everything that you do. Be a voice, make a change, always persevere.”

In his speech, Lee warned about the struggles his classmates would face as they reached for success.

“Going through life is not easy, it is not fair, it never was and it never will be,” Lee said. “Accept it and get on with it, we are going to go through struggles. Whether it is going to college, your job, in anything you do, there will be a struggle, but that is why succeeding is worth it, you have finally accomplished something. The harder the road was to get there, the better you feel about achieving it – it is that simple.”

Throwing their caps, SFTHS grads celebrate their accomplishment. Photos by Brad Shaffer, allsportsdigital.com

In what might have been the most concise valedictorian speech delivered at Santa Fe Trail High School, 2018 valedictorian Xavier Ard bid his classmates farewell and encouraged them to reach for their potential in life.

During the commencement ceremony Saturday, May 12, 2018, Ard thanked the staff at SFTHS “from our big scary principal to the friendly custodians,” and noted the class’ appreciation for them helping to make “the past four years of our lives great, but they have also helped develop us into who we are today.”

“I look out and I do not see just people,” Ard said. “I do not see only peers. I do not see matchless friends. I see much more than that. I see unlimited potential and I am beyond excited to see all of the amazing things it accomplishes.”

Ard’s speech echoed SFTHS salutatorian Madelyn Foster’s sentiments as she noted her classmates were “an extremely competitive group” that will impact the future.

“It is time for us to aspire beyond the cement walls of our high school, and reach out to greatness,” Foster said.

“I know our class, our entire generation, can do incredible things,” she said. “Now is the time when we are supposed to make waves and transform the ways of the world, and we are doing exactly that.

“We have raised the bar for those here at SFT, we have shown the community that we are not just rebellious teens, but we are powerful, impactful young people,” Foster said. “While our time here at Santa Fe Trail may be coming to an end, the revolution is only just beginning.”

The class of 76 graduates ended their high school years with SFTHS Assistant Principal Keith Johnson presenting the class of 2018 for graduation; USD 434 Board of Education President Randy Boudeman recognizing the class; and SFTHS Principal Patrick Graham announcing graduates as they accepted diplomas from members of the USD 434 Board of Education.

Most cowboys, especially bull riders, have long stopped competing when they pass 70 years of age. Ron Snoddy just can’t get the adrenalin out and proved it a few years ago when he entered the bull riding at Club Rodeo in Wichita. Snoddy, 76, will mount another bucking bull at the 48th annual Burlingame Rodeo, May 18-19, in honor and memory of Burlingame Saddle Club members.

By Frank J. Buchman

It’s just impossible to take the boy out of a cowboy.

Living proof is lifetime cowboy Ron Snoddy, active member of the Burlingame Saddle Club.

He’ll be 77 years old in just a few weeks, but age is no detriment for a real cowboy.

Snoddy is entered in the bull riding in the first performance of the 48th annual Burlingame Rodeo Friday evening, May 18, 2018, at Burlingame.

“I’m doing it in memory and honor of the Burlingame Saddle Club members who started and have continued sponsoring the rodeo,” Snoddy said.

“Ron was one of the saddle club members when the Burlingame Rodeo began,” said Pat Rusher, active club leader now.

“I can’t begin to name everybody who has helped through the years,” Rusher admitted. “Ron along with Pete Stout and John Pickett are the only ones left from when the rodeo started. Paul Lang had been heavily involved from the beginning, but he passed away about a year ago.”

“I competed in lots of rodeos in the late ’50s and early ‘60s,” Snoddy reflected. “Just the bull riding, no other events, always loved the bull riding.”

Collecting a number of payback checks, Snoddy claimed, “I paid for lots of gas for the other cowboys, but I had as much fun as anybody going up and down the road. There’s nothing like being a rodeo bull rider.”

Like many, after getting married and starting a family, Snoddy was forced to step away from rodeo. “I had to make a living and wasn’t able to do that with rodeo. I became a carpenter as my profession,” Snoddy said.

Living in Topeka, Snoddy was always in the bleachers at rodeos in driving distance throughout the years. “Watching those other cowboys ride just doesn’t compare to getting down on the bull and nodding for the gate yourself,” he insisted.