400 students graduate in evening ceremony

Almost 400 Douglas High School graduates stood in unison to honor the memory of school board member Connie Wennhold who died in March.

The students paid their respect after Principal Marty Swisher asked for a moment of silence during the graduation ceremony on the school's practice field Friday.

Besides being united in respect, the class was united as a group in their black caps and gowns with the added colors of honor and individuality.

The students receiving high honors wore gold sashes, white sashes were worn to show membership in the National Honor Society and other award cords, medals and medallions were displayed.

Valedictorian for the class is Brigita Oxoby and Allison Andraski is salutatorian.

Swisher told the graduating class that they have defined themselves as an awesome group of people.

"I hope you find joy in your life and when life gets tough, you continue to persevere," Swisher said. "Once a tiger, always a tiger."

Carol Lark addressed the first graduating class in her position as superintendent of schools and said that graduation is also called commencement.

"Commencement means 'to move forward,'" Lark said. "Steve Jobs said that your life is limited - don't waste it by living someone else's life. Have courage to follow your heart and intuition."

Three students made speeches during the ceremony. Andrew Hales spoke about the years of schooling his class had just completed.

"In school we learned how to lose, win, be patient, to cooperate and to stand on our own," said Hales. "Now it is time for us to grow up. We each hold our future in our own hands. Is the real world ready for us?"

Aaron Smith, a student new to Douglas this year, told his classmates that each of them has value.

"No matter what you look like, you have value," said Smith. "My hope is that we will be the generation of people who care. Seek value in others. It was such an honor to go through this year of high school with you guys - I wish you all the best."

Class speaker Avery Carrig assigned a dollar value to a yearbook, class ring and cap and gown.

"Hearing the school bell for the last time? Priceless," said Carrig.

She told the students they could thank their teachers, parents and the guy at Borders who got the last copy of the 'Cliff's Notes for Frankenstein' off the top shelf for you but to thank themselves.

"No one can make you graduate," Carrig said. "We worked for this, we earned this and this is our moment."