'You're stepping into your future': Port Huron Northern seniors graduate with big plans

Athena Schrader and Noah Atherton have big plans.

Clad in dark blue gowns and caps, the couple held hands Wednesday night as they walked into McMorran Theater to find their assigned seats before Port Huron Northern High School’s graduation ceremony.

Schrader is planning to attend the University of Arizona to study business. She hopes to open her own business one day, maybe a restaurant or a bakery. Atherton is planning to attend trade school to become certified to operate heavy machinery.

While the COVID-19 pandemic canceled a lot of their senior events, Schrader said there was also good that came out of the pandemic, including their status as a couple. Atherton asked her out via Instagram messenger last summer.

“Even though (the last year) has been a lot, there was a bunch of good that came out of it,” Schrader said.

They said they’re feeling hopeful about their future as the world returns to a sense of normalcy.

The feeling of normal was making its slow return at the commencement ceremony. While many people wore masks due to the ceremony being indoors, families packed the stands at McMorran to watch their seniors graduate. All 275 seniors filed into the event center in one ceremony to the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance," the lights of their candles bobbing in the darkness.

Other students said they were happy to be graduating with their entire class, instead of two ceremonies as originally planned. Julien Jackson, who plans to work in a vehicle body shop after taking classes for collision repair tech at St. Clair TEC, said he was hopeful for his future as the world returns to normal.

In John Tomlinson's commencement speech, the St. Clair County probate judge and a member of the Port Huron Northern High School class of 1982, said he too faced events outside his control.

Tomlinson said during high school, the school district failed to pass several taxes, and so was forced to split the school day into two sessions based on students' last names. He said he got to sleep in, but most of his friends were in the other sessions, and sports and extracurriculars were canceled. 

The school returned to one session and reinstated sports and extracurriculars in his senior year, but it wasn't the same. His education had been disrupted. 

While Tomlinson said that didn't compare to what the class of 2021 experienced, he has an inkling of what they're feeling. After demonstrating their resiliency, these graduates can get through anything, he said. 

"It wasn't just the school that was impacted for you, it was everything. Sports, extracurricular activities were canceled or restricted. You had to wear masks, do school online, do school in-person, do school online again...Finally, just before the stroke of midnight, in the final throes of your senior year, everything is opening up, giving you a taste of everything that you've missed throughout this year. You guys have all proven your toughness and resiliency in the face of adversity, and for that, I salute each and every one of you," Tomlinson said. 

Port Huron Schools Superintendent Jamie Cain said the class of 2021 is stepping into their future when they accept their diploma.

"It's a future world that you have the power to change, a future that places you front and center in a complex society," he said. "Your place in history is forever linked to the events of 2020 and 2021. Every year, as our graduates go out and make the world a better place, to be the difference makers, that charge feels more urgent and more important than ever."

Carol Hurt beamed and clapped in the stands when her nephew Jacob Luscomb's name was called. After losing her other nephew, Michael Post, who was honored at Port Huron High School's graduation ceremony Tuesday night with an empty chair, she was happy to be at the in-person ceremony with her family. 

“I want to cry,” she said. “I’m really happy.”

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or at lfitzgeral@gannett.com.