BY STACI WILSON

A teacher’s regular challenge to “defy mediocrity” became the rallying call of the Mountain View Class of 2014 as the student scholars and athletes broke expectations and exceled in district, state and national levels.

At commencement exercises held Tuesday evening in the Mountain View High School auditorium, diplomas were handed out to the 75 graduates, who Class President Andrew Adams said “were glad we didn’t have another snow day today.”

Co-Valedictorian Sarah Nichols took the teacher’s “defy mediocrity” challenge to mean, “Exceed the expectations of those around you.”

Mikaela Phillips, Co-Valedictorian, said the Mountain View graduates crossing the stage were “well equipped for the decisions that lay ahead of us.”

The other student speakers elaborated on how the 2014 graduating class has already established a long history of exceeding expectations – life lessons that will carry them into the future.

Class Vice President Colby Thomas said, “Our years here have brought success and honor to Mountain View. We’ve proved this class could achieve excellence even with the odds against us.”

Thomas praised the advisers and coaches who have “shown all of us we can compete at high levels.” But he continued, “No great accomplishment comes without costs.”

This year’s graduating class set themselves apart from others, said Class Secretary Alexa Suchnik.“ We don’t sit and watch. We experience things,” she said.

At Mountain View, Suchnik joked, you “can never say you hate soccer. You could get kicked out of school for that.”

The boys’ soccer team competing twice in the state tournament and the girls’ team taking three district titles were just two of the Class of 2014 led accomplishments.

Off the playing field, the seniors’ school achievements culminated with an inaugural Mini Relay for Life event that raised over $26,000 for the fight against cancer.

“We didn’t just sit by and watch,” Suchnik said.