MHHS graduation ceremonies are Friday

Mountain Home High School will hold commencement exercises for approximately 230 graduates this Friday, beginning at 7 p.m., at Tiger Field.

The keynote speakers this year will be class president Linday Englehardt and two of the six valedictorians-- students who will graduate with perfect 4.0 grade averages. This year's valedictorians are: Megan Bates, Amanda Bitterman, Ashley Williams, David Sherman, Steven Oswald and Matthew Maurer.

The two valedictorian speakers, Steven Oswald and Amanda Bitterman, were selected from among the six by Principal Barry Cahill. The selection was made after he reviewed drafts of the speeches of each of the students.

Cahill will introduce the students and degrees will be handed out by members of the school board and Supt. Jerrie LeFevre. It will be LeFevre's last graduation, as he is retiring this year and will be replaced by Tim McMurtrey when school begins this fall.

The high school band and choir will perform during the ceremonies.

The class has selected silver and black as its colors. It did not select a class flower.

The class motto is: "We cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

Following graduation the annual Senior Celebration, featuring a Hawaiian theme, will be held May 27 at Hacker Middle School.

Doors open at 10 p.m. for the non-alcoholic event sponsored by local merchants with an assistance from a state grant. The all-night "lock-in" event will feature karaoke, a DJ, refreshments, four inflatable games, a blackjack tournament and a dodge ball tournament.

Carrie Gruver from Shutterbug will be there taking 4x6 portraits for $3 each. That will be the only thing for which participants need to bring any money.

There will be gifts for all the seniors that purchased a ticket and raffles through the entire night.

The Airmen Against Drunk Drinkers and the Airman Leadership Class from Mountain Home AFB are attending the event, setting up a booth of information and providing assistance in other areas.