Class of 2007 celebrates graduation

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Mountain Home High School -- Class of 2007

Mountain Home High School seniors are now graduates and will begin the next step in their lives. Commencement took place on a windy Friday, May 25, at Tiger Field.

"(It's a) bittersweet time for me," said new MHHS Principal Jeff Johnson during the ceremony's opening remarks. "Not only my first graduates (since becoming principal at MHHS), but the last class I ever taught. I wish all of you the very best and I'm sure you'll make Mountain Home High School proud of you."

The ceremony began with the MHHS Concert Band performing the traditional processional, "Pomp and Circumstance," for the 2007 graduates as they walked down the field and took their seats.

Once seated, Sean Foster, senior class president, opened the speeches by noting, "We are done with our rigid, harsh and often too unyielding standard education." Then he brought out a book, Oh the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss, and began energetically reading it and showing the illustrations to all in attendance. While reading the book, the class of 2007 unveiled their beach balls and began playing. "How did you sneak those?" Foster asked, "That's amazing." He ended his brief speech by saying "so get on your way Class of 2007."

The MHHS Senior Members of A Capella Choir then sang "Lean on Me" by Bill Weathers.

Johnson had the faculty and staff stand while he thanked them and the district level administration.

He then asked the members of the Class of 2007 to "stand, turn and salute their family. Without your help these students would not be here tonight. Thank you for the privilege of working with your students."

Johnson noted that students received $52,709 in local scholarships."

The honor students were then asked to stand to be recognized, and then the MHHS A Capella Choir performed "Seems Like Yesterday," by Laruccia-Strommen.

The Class of 2007 had three Valedictorians: Annie Bledsoe, Alyssa Saltzgaber and Princess Young. "Each of these young ladies have worked hard to maintain a 4.0 GPA their whole high school career," said Johnson.

Bledsoe opened her speech by having all the graduates repeat a few rap lyrics after her. "I know I can, Be what I want to be, If I work really hard, I'll be where I want to be."

"There do exist rap songs with a moral," she said.

She then compared life to fairy tales. She gave examples of Cinderella, Belle and Snow White; and how each of them had to face a tragedy to achieve happiness.

"Never stop seeking happiness or you'll never find it. Always look on the bright side to find your happily ever after," she said.

She then thanked her best friend, parents and peers for "putting fun, fun, fun into my high school experience."

Saltzgaber told the crowd that "my school career has been quiet the journey, as I'm sure everyone else's has. Yes, we got frustrated about homework and grades, but thank you," she said to the teachers.

Sports and friends helped her through high school, she said. "They (friends) are the ones that brought me out of my shell. Friends are the ones that taught us to open our eyes to the beauty around us." One hundred photo albums would not be enough to cover all her memories made in high school, she said.

She thanked her two families. Her real family moved to Guam and she opted to stay with another family who took her in as their own so she could finish school with her friends. "Thank you. Your love and support for me has meant so much."

Saltzgaber closed by saying "It's only the beginning. We still have the rest of our lives ahead of us."

For Young, it was an emotional moment. "I brought some tissues just in case, and if I cry I'm going to blame it on the wind and my contacts.

"Now I stand in front of you; all the books checked in, tests taken and done with this part of our lives. We can never forget our years at Mountain Home High School because it's what has shaped us."

Her speech was about advice. She quoted a youth leader when she said "if you put gratitude in your attitude you will reach altitude.

"Throughout everything, never forget your integrity. Please remember to never forget yourself because you're the only one who can reach your dreams."

She thanked her grandparents, with whom she has been living, and her mother, who is in Hawaii with the Air Force. She wore a black and orange leigh in honor of her mother and to show her Tiger pride. She thanked all the military, teachers, school staff, everyone in the stands and the graduates. "I have loved walking through the halls with you," she said.

Mountain Home High School has never seen school spirit since the Class of 2007, she said, urging the undergraduate to "keep the spirit up." The Mountain Home High School A Capella Choir then sang the Mountain Home High School Alma mater, by Blake and Lorretta Olmstead.

Then it was time to present the diplomas. As Johnson called out their names, the school district's board of trustees, Jim Alexander, Jo Gridley, Luise House, Toni Reynolds and Tom Rodney, formally presented the diplomas to the graduates.

As the graduates walked across the stage and shook Johnson's hand many were tearful, others were overfilled with joy, and each of them handed him a pacifier, the latest in a long tradition of giving the principal something to remember each class by.

The senior class motto was "Only as high as we reach, can we grow. Only as far as we seek, can we go. Only as deep as we look, can we see. Only as much as we dream, can we be." --Anonymous.

The class colors were blue and white and the class song was "Forever Young," by Youth Group.

The senior class officers were: Sean Foster, president; Aaron Lawrence, vice president; Lindsay Horgan, secretary; Angelina Garcia, treasurer; Tyson Sessions, representative and Samantha Morrison, representative.

Additional photos of graduation are posted here http://www.mountainhomenews.com/gallery/1795/.

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