Class of 2008 Graduates
27 Seniors get Diplomas and Sunshine!
Launch the media gallery 1 player“You only live once, but if lived right, once is enough.” This quote by Gary Ryan Blair that was the motto for the Class of 2008 at Hemingford High School as twenty-seven seniors graduated on Sunday, May 11th.
Dressed in Teal and Black, the seniors were honored with a full house of friends, family, and faculty as the sun shined brightly one day after our most recent blizzard.
Junior guides were Anthony Adamson and Ashley Yardley. They led the seniors around the gym and to their section as the Band, directed by Mrs. Chesley played the popular processional, “Pomp and Circumstance”.
The invocation was given by Taylor and Gina Jespersen, and was followed by a greeting on behalf of the district by School Board member Alan Roland. Board member Bob Haas joined him on the stage with High School Principal Peggy Thayer and Hemingford School Superintendent Casper Ningen.
The “Spirit of HHS” award, given annually the past several years to a person that has exhibited qualities that enhance the student’s lives while they are in school was bestowed on long-time supporter and substitute teacher Sherry Hunter.
Mrs. Hunter is blessed with a positive attitude and an ever-present smile as she teaches or takes on responsibilities for meals after games, food for away trips, and fund-raising for post-prom to name a few. Her picture is now on the wall of the high school gym entrance with past award winners.
Ramona Hucke, High School counselor, presented the academic honors and scholarships to many members of the Class of 2008. Each award winner came to the stage while the their list of scholarships were read.
Mrs. Chesley and her mixed chorus then performed the “Graduation Song”, by Greg Gilpen.
Mrs. Thayer introduced Megan Roland, the Salutatorian for the Class of 2008, who spoke about the changes that had taken place in the past thirteen years, and how the parents, faculty, and community should share in the graduate’s success. She thanked the mothers and grandmothers for sharing Mother’s Day with the graduates as well.
Mr. Ningen introduced Valedictorian Britt Anderson, who reminding the audience to live their lives as a child, and to keep remembering to use fresh eyes to look at problems. She asked the fathers and grandfathers to stand, and thanked them for their part in the upbringing of the graduates.
Class Members Alanna Wacker and Whitney Morava addressed the audience with the history of the Class of 2008, sharing memories from Kindergarten through the present. The senior video followed, with pictures of each graduate featured as well as pictures of the past several years at school and at school activities.
Mrs. Thayer then presented the Class, and Board Members Roland and Haas presented each graduate with a diploma, a handshake, and a gold commemorative coin, provided by the board. The class moved their tassels, and then tossed their mortarboards into the air.
Class members Todd Prochazka and Katie Frahm came forward with closing thoughts and a prayer, and the class exited as “These Walls” by Trapt played. There was a receiving line outside in the bright sunshine, and for the next hour everyone had a chance to say congratulations and to take more pictures.
Congratulations Class of 2008!