Abby Knight
For The New Era
Sweet Home High School’s Class of 2007 gathered Friday for commencement ceremonies to take a look back at their past, reminisce about the high school days that were their present, and gaze into their bright futures.
Valedictorian Jill Wilson and Salutatorian Jessica Trautwein quoted Dr. Seuss: “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s after noon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn.”
Wilson and Trautwein spoke of those first years of school. “Do you remember watching Bill Nye the Science Guy and Adventures of the Magic School Bus?” they asked. “All these memories seem to be lost, but they are only making room for the new.”
Valedictorians Sara Brocard and Stefani Crocker had fond memories of their four years in high school, including a speaker fire during an assembly and “the infamous ‘bun and soup,'” They said, “Even though we are moving on in our individual lives, we will never forget the teachers that influenced us and the friends that we have made. We have laughed, cried, learned, and made memories together that will last a lifetime.”
Friday’s commencement exercises were only one step in the celebration for Class of 2007. On Wednesday, June 6, Baccalaureate was held at Community Chapel and, following the graduation ceremonies, most of the seniors retired to the all-night Senior Alcohol-Free (SAFE) party in which they played games and competed for a pickup truck load of prizes.
The baccalaureate address was given by Michael Schaefer, who advised students to “be persistent and never give up.” He spoke of Thomas Edison and Colonel Sanders, both of whom failed more than one thousand times before finally succeeding. “Engrave this on your heart: one thousand no’s will not stop the yes from coming into your life,” Schaefer said.
The invocation was given by Pete Kauffman, and the benediction by Tony Ward. The high school choir sang “He Never Failed Me Yet”. After the service, parents and friends joined the graduates outside for a moment of remembrance for late classmate Stephen Knapp. In memory of their friend, each student released a white balloon.
At Friday’s graduation ceremonies, keynote speakers Billy Snow and Cheryll Munts, both science teachers at SHHS, urged students to thank people who were influential to them. Placed in the graduation program of each graduate were two ribbons, which Snow and Munts asked that students give to those who made a difference in their lives.
In addition to the regular graduating class, diplomas were awarded to four military veterans: Robert Thomas Miller, Lloyd Douglas Osburn, Burton Adam Rochefort, and Monte Cole Row. Osburn, a Sweet Home resident and the only veteran able to attend the ceremony, was given a standing ovation as he was awarded his diploma by Principal Pat Stineff.
The high school band played “With Quiet Courage”. The Concert Choir, featuring solos by several graduates, sang “Good Riddance Time of Your Life”.
Valedictorians Kristopher Schaefer and Erika Snow looked towards the future. They encouraged their fellow graduates to fill in the blank pages of their future. They said, “When Skyler Bascom is a top FBI agent, and Jess Keys is rocking out on MTV, and Cassandra Schumacher runs in the Olympic Games, they took advantage of the endless opportunities placed before them.”
“So get ready, Class of 2007,” Snow and Schaefer told their classmates. “It’s your turn to embark on the journey of a lifetime, and the possibilities are endless.”