Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
The crowd was packed into the stands and nearly every available spot on the Main Gym floor, but that was all it took to get the Class of 2008 graduated Friday night at Sweet Home High School.
Despite a confrontation earlier in the day over school officials’ decision to move the ceremony indoors because of cold, rainy weather, graduates showed plenty of enthusiasm once things got under way.
“We finally made it,” announced Salutatorian Mary Bond in her opening remarks. “It’s been quite a journey.”
Led by Bond and Valedictorian Bryan Warth, 160 graduates paraded into the gym as the high school Concert Band, accompanied by eighth-grade band members, played “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Warth quoted a series of famous sources, ranging from Woody Allen to Charlie Brown, as he urged graduates to take advantage of the opportunities before them, while not getting carried away by pressure to succeed.
“On our journey down the highway called life, we must not lose hope, drive, and our individual personality that make up who we are,” he said, quoting Albert Einstein: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.”
“We don’t need to be rich and famous to become a value and succeed in life,” Warth said. “If we all give life all we have to give, and don’t lose sight of what’s important, our community, family, friends and selves, then when it’s all said and done, we will have few regrets.”
Bond thanked “family, teachers, counselors, bosses, coaches and friends” for their advice and support during the high school years, then offered a list of lessons she said she’s learned from movies she’s watched, such as, from “Napoleon Dynamite,” that “great things happen when you step out of your comfort zone and break your shell.
“Whether it is a movie or whether it isn’t, we may or may not get a John Williams soundtrack to our lives, but we can still live like we have a theme,” she said.
“And, as Tiny Tim from ‘A Christmas Carol’ said, ‘God bless us, every one.'”
Keynote speakers were teachers Debi Temple, who got a standing ovation in recognition of her fast-approaching retirement, and Steve Hummer.
The pair, speaking in tandem, told graduates they have choices before them and listed some of those choices, as well as Sweet Home graduates who have excelled in various fields, by making good choices.
“You have the choice to be courageous, to be hardworking, to go the extra mile, to make a difference in other people’s lives,” Hummer told the crowd. “Whatever you have chosen, each of you will be contributing your own special talents to society.”
Temple said that one of the first choices graduates must make is “that of hard work.
“Being a success is tough, no question, but we know of no one who has become a success that was lazy,” she said.
The two, emphasizing that they were only giving an incomplete list, cited the following alums who have been successful in business or as managers by dint of hard work: Mike Murphy, Craig Bramlet, Leon Olson, Scott Melcher, Shane Cochran, Tim Crocker, Desi Thompson, Jim Cota, Scott Evenson, Mary Blanchard, Clint McCollum, Doug Rice, Blaine Belveal, Joe Graville, Jerry Ganta, Tom Daniels, Mark Adams, Vicki Carlson, Carl Lemmer, Dale Harper, Mike Zanona, Don Arndt, Lindsey Hampton, TJ Duncan, Maria Andrade, David Burford, Amber Taylor, Tim Baugus, Keith Marler, Butch Watkins, Rick Hummer, Skip Marler, Marcie Vavrosky, Scott Johnson, Jeff Warren, Ted Stock, Manny Smith, Ernie Oar, Terry Watkins, Heather Thorpe, Kevin Lummus, Ron Moore, Jimmy Hagle, George Virtue, John Virtue, Nathan Aman, Michelle Hartman, Jason Podrobsky, Richard Bell, Alice Adcock, Ernie Baxter, Mark Johnson, Scott and Heather Johnson, Joel Keesecker, Don Bebout, Terry Bentley, Steve Hanscam, Dan McCubbins, Bryce Nieman, Luke Pyke, Jim Philpott, Blair Reynolds, Richard Reynolds, Phil Pollock, Star Walker, Scott Weld, Abby Virtue, Ken White Sr., Josh Darwood, Jamie Lynn and Jay Horner.
“These business women and men have shown that hard work pays off,” Temple said. “They have not accepted any excuses, they have simply made it happen. They have made a success of their lives.”
Hummer and Temple then listed some of the graduates who have gone on to make “a huge impact” in the medical field: Amy Shank, Jamey Calhoon, Leah Land, Dr. Kalee Schaefer, Dr. John Land, Tami Northern, Darren Redden, Rachel Ahola, Ivan Wolthuis, Chris Rice, Julie Thorpe, Shane Emmert, Sinak Khiev, Lee Land, Gary Jones, Josh Dahlenburg, Jeremy Dahlenburg and Allison Thompson.
Thirdly, they listed some graduates “who have chosen to help make our lives easier, better and safer” in the engineering field: David Helfrich, TJ Paul, Jeff Freeman, Shane Northern, Paul Betts, Wes Strubhar, Kasey Carlson, Jeff Danielson and Ed Brennan.
“These graduates have made life better for us,” Temple said. “They are an example for you, they are proof that success can be yours if you choose to use your mind and have a desire to make others’ lives better.”
Temple listed some alumni who have gone into education, “who have chosen to help people become their very best,” including many current Sweet Home High School teachers: Steve Thorpe, Tom Horn, Steve Hummer, Nate Tyler, Craig Wilson, Blayne Watkins, Alan Buzzard, Kyle Temple, Dustin Nichol, Chris Hiaasen, Ed Nieman, David Younger, Michael Jordan (“Not THAT Michael Jordan,” Hummer told graduates), Mark John, Sara Rumrey, Breant Belveal, Paul Patton, Heather Wright, Dan Borreson, Steve Emmert, Lauri Carlson, Sara Wilson, Tina Rappin, Tim Mausen, Nick Mausen, Cora Adcock, Ruby Zigon, Melissa Severns, Tracy Vavrosky, Courtney Murphy, Jeff Plummer, Tim Ponzoha, Teresa Ponzoha, Ritchie Price, Tami Volz, Robin Hipp, Royce McDaniels, Kevin Moen, Shannon Stover, Vicki Hooley, Heidi Keller, Dawn Lewis, Manuel Robledo, Mari Robledo, Amy Paul, Ali Sullens, Nadine Pitchford (Millie), Lena Agoff, Scott Baumgartner, Ben Dahlenburg, Todd Daniels, Bradley Emmert, Tim Massey, Julie Emmert, Jolee Stafford, Toy Royer, Tim Seiber and Mary Sue Reynolds.
As examples of “great leaders” who have become police officers, firefighters or volunteers, and public servants in government, they listed: Wayne Thorpe, Mike Beaver, Mike Adams, Craig Martin, Doug Emmert, Ron Wample, Sam Posthuma, Jeff Lynn, Randy Whitfield, Scott Barnes, Russ Berger, Bruce Davis, Rick Wagner, Charlie Ford, Dean Hall and John Lovik.
Noting that June 6, the day of the graduation, was the 64th anniversary of the Allies’ invasion of France during World War II, they listed some graduates who “choose to serve our country to help make the world a better, safer place for everyone” in the military: Tori Petersen, Jerry Farnsworth, Chris Slauson. Carissa Niemi, Toby Volz, Brad Senef, Nick Tyler, Vern Malone, Kellen Pedersen, Deon Dearborn and Bill Chiaffino.
“Thank you ,those that have chosen to serve. Thank you for making us safe tonight,” Temple said. “We praise you and thank you for being examples for these young men and women tonight.”
Lastly, Hummer and Temple listed some alums who have chosen “to follow a dream” by performing in sports or the arts and entertainment, in journalism or in church: Matt Redden, Matt Slauson, Mike Wilkerson, McKenzie Marchbanks, Brandon Martin, Capi Lynn, John Seiber, Renee Wolthuis, Carmen Wolthuis, Christine Civatanich, Lisa Brocard, Gary Lacey and Jimmy Stock, who with his brothers, Joel and Matt, have recorded three Christian music albums as the Stock Brothers.
“Make the choices that will help you become great,” Hummer told the departing seniors. “Realize that those that have gone before you have set the bar high, they have shown you the way. You have no excuses. Become great at whatever path of life you choose.”