Mr. Buchanan is this year’s graduation speaker

Mr.+Buchanan+is+shown+here+with+the+flowers+waiting+for+the+parents+of+seniors+on+Senior+Night%2C+2014.+Among+his+other+duties%2C+Mr.+Buchanan+helped+organize+the+annual+event.

Photo by Paul Apfelbeck

Mr. Buchanan is shown here with the flowers waiting for the parents of seniors on Senior Night, 2014. Among his other duties, Mr. Buchanan helped organize the annual event.

By LYDIA CHUNAK, staff writer

The senior speaker for 2016 graduation ceremony is activity director Jon Buchanan.

Mr. Buchanan been here in Galena for 16 years.

“Any child that started school in Galena and is graduating this year… I saw them when they were just a baby,” he said.

Mr. Buchanan is 47 years old. He taught in Nulato before coming to Galena. His past jobs have included coach, shop teacher, physical education teacher, assistant principal, and athletic director. He’s also a dad to daughters Jenna, Sarah, and Ajanae, and son Evan.

Asked about the students he’s affected, he said, “I hope to give meaning, purpose, and value to not only them as a person, but where they came from.”

He said his favorite part of working in Galena was the many opportunities for our children for grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.