Later today, Saturday, May 25, Bluffton High School (BHS) will hold its 138th commencement. There are 9 valedictorians and 1 salutorian in the graduating class of 2019. 

Here's the historic list of valedictorians and salutorians of BHS from present day to the original class of 1881.
Please note, this list is not comprehensive.

2019      Seth Andreas, Madeline Burghaze, Kennedy Coughlan, Rhett Donaldson, Amelia Mitchell, Katie Prater, Lily Shadle, Amanda Speicher and Hannah Yost.    
Jackson Steinmetz - Salutorian

2018      Christopher Harnish, Leah Conley, Sydney Hoff, Kayla Kindle, Aimee Ritter      
Garrett Habegger - Salutorian

2017      Sarah Nicole Theisen, Isaac Andreas, Juliana Hotmire, Marley Runk, Jayme Siefer, Sydney Staton, Megan Sycks, Phillip Tatarkov
Joshua Begg - Salutorian

2016      Saraelizabeth Bertka, John Marcum , Mark Bixel, Samuel Crisp, Nicole Edlebrock, Michael Groman, Brielle Hamilton, Abby Tuttle, Katherine Scott, Elizabeth Nisly
Mia Edwards - Salutorian

2015      Emma LeeAnn Woodruff, John Bowen Oakley, V , Erica Sheehan, Olivia Paige Sneary, Joshua Richard Garmatter   
Alexandria Jane Schmutz - Salutorian

2014      Tyler Begg, Jacob Bishop, Landon Cluts, Julian Harnish, Morgan Humphreys, Kit-Ann Knisley, David Nester, Trent Phillips, Everett Ritter, Stephen Tatarkov, William Theisen
Courtney Barnett - Salutorian

2013      Julie Althaus, Aaron Basinger, Jessica Brockert , Anna Crisp, Karli Leugers, Jonathan Nisly, Justin Paul, Rachel Sehlhorst, Emily Sprague              
Michael Deter - Salutorian

2012      Hannah Chappell-Dick, Jayne Sycks, Michael Liska, Lindsey Sneary, Ashlin Gable, Abbey Rieman, Taylor Steele, Lucas Harnish, Halle Steingass        
Kallen Terry - Salutorian

2011      Elizabeth Diller, David Hooley, Taylor Humphreys, Emily Krabach, Drew Luginbuhl, Kelly McCarthy, Danielle Rhonemus, Jared Staley, Elvira Tatarkov, David Yoder 
Miranda DeLoera, Rebekah Sneary - Salutorians

2010      Britni Cheney, Joel Groman, Breanne Hamilton, Ryan Johnston, Jessica Liska, Joshua Woodruff, Dakota Kirtland
Kayne Edwards - Salutorian

2009      Amanda Rhonemus, Jonica Schmutz         
Aaron Shelly - Salutorian

2008      Audrey Beasley, Jordan Cluts, Elizabeth Ford, John Harder, Louise Jones, Tyrel Nuzum, Megan Spallinger
Megan Fett - Salutorian

2007      Ryan Lowry, Adrian Matthews, Gwen Smith, Micah Sommer, Samantha Pena, Kurt Groman, Joseph Amstutz, Korie Gesler     

2006      Joel Gundy, Meredith Lehman, Rachel Mohr, Scott Sterrett, Jennifer Sylak, Megan Unterbrink, Andrew Yoakam, Kurt Groman              
Adam Marquart - Salutorian

2005      Stacy Geiger, Caleb Barnes, Jenna Buller, Michele Herron, Tyler Macke, Autumn Steiner, Tryan Suderman, Robert Wagner, Danielle Nuzum          

2004      Jessica Edmiston, Joy Savage, John Sylak
Micah Boehr - Salutorian

2003      Laura Krugh, Tatyana Shekochikhin, David Beer, Bekah Sommer, Sarah Madrigal, Rebekah Mohr, Nicholas Houshower, Andrew Bixel, Jamie Geiger  
Rebekah Hunt -  Salutorian

2002      Kelsey Dyck, Josh Weaver, Mollie McCullough, Ben Gundy
Carman Wong - Salutorian

Prior to 2002, the top BHS students were noted as both "honor students" and "diploma with honors." To be an honor student, students maintained a minimum of a 3.75 grade point average (gpa) throughout their high school career. To achieve a diploma with honors, student had to meet 7 of 8 criteria, including a number of credits in English, math, social studies, science and fine arts, whilst maintaining a gpa of 3.5 or higher.

2001      Doug Antibus, Ann Bixel, Jacob Boehr, Brett Buller, Lindsay Criblez, Leslie Deter, Sarah Gray, Kyle Luginbuhl, Kathryn Niese, Josh Prowant, Matt Renfroe, Lisa Scheckelhoff, Rachel Simon, J'aime Spicher, Lindsay Steiner, Jon Wietholter

2000      Nathan Sommer, Nathan Gundy, Elizabeth Beer, Jared Caskie, Amanda Corbitt, Tracy Chan, Andrew Edinger, Rebecca Gratz, Abigail Trollinger, Sarah Unterbrink, Rebekah Trollinger, Pam Stemen, Abigail Schaaf, Rachel Neff, Craig Metzger, Joni Maag, Justin Kantner, Rachel Holt, Molly Bixel, Sarah Niese, Tara Buroker, Theresa Meyer, Anna Bixel, Natasha Meyer

1999      Sarah Ahmed, Jacob Amstutz, Douglas Brumfield, Justin Byers, Amy Chin, Curt Diller, Ann Hohenbrink, Sam Houshower, Michelle Marks, Ken Miller, Julia Nielsen, Tim Raabe, Meghan Smith, Greg Steiner, Emily Suter

1998      Wendy Antibus, Lindsay Benroth, Phil Gratz, Kim Harmon, Ben Hohenbrink, Katie Kantner, Gavin Leonard, Brendon Matthews, Cathy Miller, Luke Parthemore, Angela Queen, Jonah Wetherill

1997      Adam Criblez, Catherine Kingsley, Rebecca McKibben, Jennifer Niese, Jeff Powell, Ann Stechschulte, Leah Steinmetz, Cameron Warner

1996      Gabe Benroth, Emily Bishop, Jonathan Edwards, Rachel Hilty, Shannon Kilpatrick, Daniel Kingsley, Kristi Metzger, Sarah Savage, Karen Suter, Andrew Wetherill

1995      Jason Benner, Crystal Bennett, Amy Bixel, Khea Ly Chin, Sarah Holt, Shanna Marsh, Matt Niese, Michael Powell

1994      Paul Kingsley, Jennifer Van Atta, Jeremy Wilch

Prior to 1994, the top students were noted simply as "honor students."

1993      Jannie Barhorst, Kea Voa Chin, Laura Edwards, Patricia Hart, Angela Montgomery

1992      Pamela Craig, Douglas Hammond, Eliza Jacoby, Angela Ream,Vickie Shafer

1991      Jonathan Herr and Troy Unterbrink

1990      Daniel Althaus, Jeffrey Bishop, Rachel Hefner, Erinn Osborn, J. Michael Reichenbach, Timothy Weidner

1989      Kristin Aasmundstad, Jennifer Amstutz, Megan Bowerman, Ben Chappell, Heng Chin, Lessie Rae Cockrell, Aron Derstine, Julie Friesen, Katie Jacoby, Caroline Kruse, Jennifer Lehman, Jana Mathewson

1988      Omar Bazzy, Kamala Geiser, Greg Reichenbach, Lisa Weaver

1987      Wendy Chappell, Jon Friesen, Kelli Gerber and Sonia Weaver

1986      Brigette Herr, Shari Benner, Steven Brunswick, Michelle Butler, Margaret Evilsizer, Adam Hoff, Julie Kahle, Niki Millager, Trisha Musser, Janet Schaublin, David Schweingruber, Wendy Smith, Kelly Stover

1985      Ana Greavu, Mark Richard, Julie Shelly, Lynn Stechschulte, Marc Augsburger, Steven Krehbiel

1984      Susan Burkholder, Janine Friesen, Mary Steiner, Michael Yoder

1983      Colleen Caskey, Bart Moser, Amy Osborne, Lisa Vercler,  Eric Huss

1982      Mark Yoder,  Laura Burkholder,  Kay Ruth Kibele, Cheryl Pannabecker

1981      Tracy Fruchey, Jon Geiser, Greta Hiebert, Eric Kehler

1980      Doris Dyck, Bobbi Hey,  Letitia Triplett, Peter Yost

1979      Gerald Hofacker II, Cheryl Kehler, Darryl Mathewson,  David Mohr,      Michele Snyder

1978      Lori Badertscher, Kathy Ernsberger, Carol Kaufmann

1978      Alisa Simons and  Marsha Weaver

1976      Jed Marquart, Lisa Fritschi, Jennifer Hiebert. Bonita Kehler, Jon Krehbiel. Iris Neufeld

1975      Douglas Boehr and  Garry Crites

1974      Gloria Bucher, Constance Kahle, Mark Phillips, Keith Reichenback,   Roger Triplett

1973      Eric Andrews, Susan King, Mary Matter, Martha Mecartney, Debra Neff

1972      Wendell Miller, Anita Baker, Alice Moser, Cynthia Neufeld, Dean Reichenbach

1971      Joan Kreider, Stephen Lehman, Elizabeth Yost, Pamela Leedy,     Martha Vercler

1970      Barbara Lehman, Hans Houshower, Gloria Lora, Michael Osborne,    John Templin

1969      Karlyn Reichenbach, James Barnett, Ken Ehrman, Marion Shelly,     Nancy Triplett

1968      Mary Jane Baker,  Janice Lugibihl. Richard Emmert, Judith Lehman,  Philip Yost

Prior to 1968, the top students were called "Scholarship Honor students."

1967      James Ehrman, Suzanne Hilty, David Smucker, Judith Suter, Margaret Weaver

1966      John Pannabecker, George Traucht, Janet Martz, Gregory Triplett, Patricia Klingler

1965      Philip Pannabecker, Charles Baker, Pamela Triplett, Mark Schumacher, Kathleen Osborne

1964      Elaine Naas, Sally Emmert, Jane Herr, Gayle Gerber

Between 1963 and 1961, there were only four Scholarship Honor students, and they were numbered.

1963      Thomas Brauen - 1
1963      Elaine Baker - 2
1963      Thomas Criblez - 3
1963      Gerald Weaver - 4
 

1962      Kenneth Graber - 1
1962      Elizabeth Raid - 2
1962      Rachel Hilty - 3
1962      Karen Bash - 4
 

1961      Charles Jordan - 1
1961      John Travis - 2
1961      Mary Smucker - 3
1961      Joyce Zimmerman - 4

1960      Betty Stratton
1960      Carol Bixel
1960      James Luginbuhl
1960      Jan Emmert

1958      Gloria Moser
1958      Timothy Diller
1958      Ann Stauffer
1958      Robert Wells

Prior to 1957, there are limited records. BHS yearbooks seldom noted the top graduating students, although it appears they were named valedictorian and salutorian. Where possible, the below are the students nominated to the National Honor Society. Bluffton's National Honor Society was charted in 1935. According to the 1957 yearbook, NHS members were "chosen by faculty on the basis of scholarship, leadership, service and character." The club consist of fifteen percent of seniors, who must have B average or better.

*Where a copy of the commencement program exists on archive, such as for 1947 and 1943, the Icon is able to list the actual valedictorian and salutorian.

1957      Judith Tschantz, Mary Jo Diller, William Herr, Ronald Geiser, Gary Lora, Paul Jorg

1956      Dale Hochstettler, Beulah Bixel, Shirley Burry, Rebecca Frankhauser, Jacqueline Berry, Ron Lora

1955      Frederick Thornton Lauriat Jr., Wilma Jean Jorg, Lillyette Sue Montgomery, Irlene Gierman, Dorothy Faye Stratton

1952      Joan Gratz, June Hochstettler, Robert Wenger, Don Triplehorn, Joe Smucker

1953      Kaye Matter, Sue Risser, Shirley Derringer, Carol Carmack, David Burkholder, David Gerber, David Beery

1947      Mary Kathryn Bauman - Valedictorian
1947      Alice Ruth Pannabecker - Salutorian*

1948      Marilyn Stratton, Marilyn Fett, Ted Bauman, Mary Burkholder, Harriett Burkhart, Dora Jean Luginbuhl, Jean Burkholder

1943      Robert T. Pannabecker - Valedictorian*
1943      Dorothy J. Anderson - Salutorian*

1942      Marcene Stonehill, Mary Stearns, Dorothy Anderson, Raymond Schumacher, Margery Niswander, Norman Biedler, Carol Bame, Neil Neuenschwander, Eloise Sommer

1941      Kenneth Oberly, Lois Schaeublin, Harriet Blome, John Stettler, Betty Steinman, Charlotte Santschi

1935      Lucille Hilty, Fern Hilty, Marjorie Hofer, David Kliewer, Robert Kreiden, James Miller, Letha Niswander, Margaret Triplett

Between 1932 and 1935, BHS actually named one or two "Best All Around Students." According to the 1934 BHS yearbook, these students were chosen "because they have taken an active part in almost every phase of school life. The selection of the most versatile students is based on a point system adopted by the Student Senate. This system includes leadership and membership in all scholastic as well as extra-curricular activities."

1934      Lucille Niswander and Konstantin Epp
1933      Gordon Alderfer and Eleanor Worthington
1932      Jane Miller and Robert Balmer

No records for 1931 available. Prior to this, BHS named Valedictorian (or First Honor) and Salutorian (Second Honor).

1930      Carolyn Romey - Valedictorian
1930      Mabel Miller - Salutorian
1929      Alfred Hirschler  - Valedictorian
1929      Eugene Bigler - Salutorian
1927      Dorothy Quiring - Valedictorian
1926      Beulah L. Moser - Valedictorian
1926      Bernice Ewing - Salutorian

No records available for between 1925 and 1882.

In 1881, the first baccalaureate of BHS, Minnie Herrman had First Honor (valedictorian) and Helen F. Barnes was Second Honor (salutorian).

The list has been compiled through commencement programs archived by Bluffton High School and BHS yearbooks available at the Bluffton Public Library, and is not comprehensive.

Special thanks to Julie Oberly, HS secretary, who allowed the Icon access to these historic programs, and to the Bluffton Public Library for having so many BHS yearbooks available in their history room.