It’s all relative when it comes to the size of graduating classes in Wisconsin, so nine students in the Washington Island School Class of 2026 is bigger than you might think. In fact, it is the school’s largest graduating class since COVID-19. The closest came in 2021, when seven students graduated.
This year’s graduating class holds a special place in the heart of Principal Tim Verboomen, who, like Kewaunee’s Lindsey Hudson and Southern Door’s Steve Bousley, will have the opportunity to hand his child a high school diploma. His son, Colin, is the class salutatorian, while Rita Valentincic is the valedictorian. Verboomen said he always gets a little emotional on graduation day, but June 5 may be a little harder for him to hold back the tears.
It will be hard for the other seniors to say goodbye as well, many of whom have not ventured much farther than Door County’s mainland. Valentincic said that even though she is not an island lifer like some of her classmates, the senior class has been like siblings to her.
Magnus Purinton echoed those sentiments, adding that basketball trips were among his favorite memories. He is looking forward to seeing what life is like off the island when he studies mechanical engineering at UW-Platteville.
Cydney Kickbusch has traveled a little more than Purinton, having already spent a semester abroad. She is looking forward to the additional opportunities she will encounter when she attends UW-Milwaukee to study nursing.
Gretta Gunnlaugsson is also looking forward to opportunities that are not necessarily available on the island. Before heading to technical college to study to become a paramedic, she is looking forward to celebrating graduation day with a community that means so much to her.
The connection to the community is important to Ashlynn DeJardin, who said it inspired her to attend UW-Stevens Point to study family and consumer sciences.
Cam Munao, Tom Pratt and Mason Isaacson-Krueger also will celebrate their graduation with the community when the ceremony takes place June 5, the final such ceremony this spring in Door and Kewaunee counties.
