As 171 Sweet Home High School seniors were graduated Friday night, they were reminded by administration, teachers and others of the example Keith Gabriel, an active community volunteer who died last week, set in achieving the Class of 2001’s motto: “You only live once; but if you live it right, once is enough.”
“Some people have taught me ways I want to be, and others just the opposite,” valedictorian Chelsea Frick said. “The best lessons in life aren’t learned in the classroom.”
Those lessons are learned by living life and from others. Frick thanked a number of teachers, family and friends for the examples they have set and the things they have taught her.
“Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect,” Frick said. “There always unexpected things to be learned.”
Some say that the high school years are the best and tell students to enjoy them, she said. “I am convinced that the best is yet to come.”
Students have all kinds of emotions at graduation time, but they should be proud of making it, Frick said. “As we move through life, try to remember the things that make you happy.”
“It is an honor to be standing before you leading an extremely strong Class of 2001,” valedictorian Todd Luttmer said. He also thanked friends, family and teachers for making high school so enjoyable. He credited God for leading him, otherwise he would not be there at all.
“The outcome of our four years depends on decisions we make,” Luttmer said. After reading an email from a cousin, “it was then I realized my life was up to me. If you are true to yourself, if you love with your whole heart … believe in your convictions, if you see setbacks as challenges, mistakes as lessons, you can do anything….
“Guys we finally did it. We made it. We’re graduating. This is just the beginning of a new adventure, life.”
Both valedictorians reminded the class of its motto.
Athletic Director Larry Johnson and Principal Pat Stineff delivered the keynote address for the ceremony, and because the Class of 2001 requested it, they wanted to keep the address light and humorous.
“We hope we meet Ashley (Severns’) challenge,” Johnson quipped. She asked, “‘Do you think we will remember this day 20 years from now?’ I hope that’s true in the next 45 minutes we’re up here.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to push, pull and coerce you to get you where you are today,” Stineff, in her fourth year as principal, said. “Seriously, we are really very honored to have been asked to speak. This class is special. We both came to Sweet Home High School at the same time…. I’ve really enjoyed watching you grow and mature into fine young people.”
High school students are her favorite, Stineff said. They come into high school as freshmen with strange behaviors and leave as adults.
“You will never have to ask for a bathroom pass again,” she said.
During the awards assembly, retiring teacher Chuck Thompson told the class to not be at the end of the line.
“You have the power and control to select your own destiny,” Johnson elaborated during graduation. He urged the class to make good choices, to most importantly work hard.
“Base your choices on your values or on the values of people you respect,” Johnson said. He reminded the class not to make excuses. “The person in charge of what comes out of you is you.”
He told the students to keep a positive attitude, “treat people with respect no matter who they are, no matter what their occupation or age.”
He urged them to be like a Chuck Thompson, teacher Ken Collins, classified staff Arnie Anderson and others throughout the school district and community who show positive character.
“There is no future in any job,” Supt. Bill Hampton said. “The future lies in the person who holds the job.”
He told the members of the class that they are unique and bring an individualized set of characteristics to a job.
The most important part of school may not be the text book or the classroom, but how a student steers himself or herself through life. “As you go forth, remember you are unique. Don’t let others define your identity…. Have the courage to say no. Do the right thing because it’s right.
“Never quit. Learn to know you’re own potential. Accentuate the positive at all times. Eliminate the negative.”
He reminded the class of its motto, how that had been achieved by Keith Gabriel.
“As you go through life, I wish you success,” Supt. Hampton said.
During the ceremony, High-Q awards were given to Clint Sieminski and Rob Waibel for their achievements. These were the first High-Q awards in five years. They were presented by Eric Duncan.
Sieminski, Class of 1999, was a three-time state champion in wrestling.
He thanked the Sweet Home community for supporting its students and athletics. He also thanked The New Era Publisher Alex Paul for nicknaming him “the Iceman” and teachers and administrators for helping keep him focused.
Waibel, Class of 1983, is a world champion in logging. He has competed and will compete on ESPN Great Outdoors games.
He said the award was a great honor.
“These are good looking kids,” he said of the Class of 2001, and he couldn’t believe they were from SHHS.
They set him to thinking about what he wore to his graduation, original shrink-to-fit Levi’s 501s with an Ozzy Osbourne T-shirt. He was glad to see the green and yellow graduation gowns. When he was graduated, the class colors were purple and pink. The gowns were the same colors.
On a serious note, he shared the secrets of his success, hard work and paying attention. He urged the class to remember those two things. Paying attention, he said, means looking out “for opportunities to make a buck, make a friend or make a connection.”
There’s no such thing as a natural, Johnson said. “You might have a little ability, but what it’s going to take is hard work…. Be like a Keith Gabriel if you can.”
Be active in the community, “have a job you like” and “be good parents,” He said.
“Practice isn’t over,” Fir Lawn Lutheran Pastor Mike Schaefer said during baccalaureate ceremonies. “Now, it’s time to play the game.”