"Which side is the tassel supposed to be on?"
"This hat doesn't fit my freaking head."
"I can't find my partner."
"Where's my tassel?"
"No cell phones, no leis and the tassel goes on the right side."
For the last time, the Douglas High School's class of 2006 lined up as they had been doing since kindergarten. They made last-minute adjustments before their ceremony on the softball field.
At 4:55 p.m. "Pomp and Circumstance" began to play and the soon-to-be graduates began the procession.
"We're going!"
"Hi Mommy! Take a picture when we walk by."
"That a boy, Cuz. Party at your place."
"What side is my tassel supposed to be on?"
Music students, Jenn Davis, Doug Dorman and Matt Simmons, were wearing shell necklaces in lieu of leis.
Parents came up with a solution to the lei ban. Family members would wear the leis during the ceremony
"Our leis came with a shell necklace," said Davis. "We'll wear the necklaces and keep them under our gowns."
The temperature was in the high 80s and windless. Many seniors wore sunglasses which was the inspiration for Superintendent John Soderman to give the graduating class a send-off with a song:
"Thing's are going great and they're only getting better.
"I'm doing alright, getting good grades.
"The future's so bright, I've got to wear shades.
"Just like the song, you have a bright future," he said.
Soderman recognized the members of the class who succeeded at Douglas: Andrew Warren who never missed a day since he started school, Elizabeth Rice who was going to make a name for herself in journalism, Sam Simmons who was going to take Native American studies in college.
Soderman said Ashley Hennefer would make her name as a director someday while Kat Lambrecht and Dave Mathews would be able to convince anyone of anything.
He recognized students who were going on to become part of the armed forces, work in medical fields and as auto technicians, as fire chiefs, speech pathologists and teachers.
"You're ready to enter the world of work," he said.
"I'm proud to be graduating with you," said Soderman who retires as superintendent of Douglas County schools on June 30.
The brightest in a class of bright futures were valedictorian Renee Johnston and salutatorian Joy Calebaugh.
Johnston is a National Merit finalist and among the awards she received are the Robert Z. Hawkins, Sierra Nevada Ear, Nose and Throat, Sorensen's Resort, Robert C. Byrd and John Ascuaga's Nugget scholarships.
Calebaugh received scholarships from the Ely Weigel Memorial/Meneley Elementary PFAC, Carson Valley Lions, Carson Valley Kiwanis/Michelle Drew, Carson Valley Inn, Burger King Scholars, the Berner Memorial, Ronald McDonald House Charities and the University Women of Carson Valley.
Andrew Davis and his long-time friend Chris Romanowitz were just wanting the ceremony to be finished. They were worried about becoming too hot wearing black robes in the sun.
"It hasn't hit me yet but it's finally here," said Davis. "I just want to get this over with."
He was planning to start school at Western Nevada Community College in the fall.
"Then I'll switch to UNR to take criminal justice classes to become a detective. I always wanted to be one," he said.
Romanowitz' plans were to take photography at the San Francisco School of Art but he agreed with his friend that the ceremony was something to do before the party started.
"I plan to go to a party at Tahoe and stay there for the night," he said.
Patricia Burt also had plans after the graduation ceremony.
"We're going to have a barbecue with family and friends - about 40 people," said Burt. "This whole thing hasn't hit me yet. I plan to take a semester off before I decide what to do."
Charlotte Drumm said she was going to the University of Nevada, Reno, in the fall to attend nursing school and eventually pharmacy school. With the last official event of her high school days impending, Drumm said she'd remember her teachers.
"Our teachers were always there for us," said Drumm. "They were all good."
