Class of 2009 graduates, head into real world

Tiger Field played host to the commencement ceremony for Mountain Home High School's graduating class of 2009 last Friday night.

The field was packed to the rafters with friends and family cheering on the graduates and giving them recognition for their academic efforts.

ASB president TJ Billinger opened the proceedings by introducing the graduating class and taking time to thank his family, friends and members of the graduating class.

"I think our graduating class is pretty special. It seemed like we didn't have any problems with cliques. You could just walk up to somebody and be a part of the group. I'm glad we were like that."

Billinger spoke about what the seniors have accomplished during the school year, including the decoration of the senior hallway into a "Monopoly Paradise" and the success of the senior barbecue.

Billinger commented on how proud he was to spent his entire school year in Mountain Home and in closing said, "This should not be the end, but a new beginning."

Mountain Home High School principal Jeff Johnson spoke about the first assembly the school held a month into the school year and how he was disappointed in the seniors' leadership ability and of the example they were setting for the underclassmen.

"Which leads to today and determining whether or not this was a great class that left their mark on Mountain Home High School," said Johnson.

Johnson recapped a long list of accomplishments during the 2008-09 school year that included 10 out of 13 athletic programs qualifying for state (nine individual state champions), and during the month of May four teams winning district titles and the girl's softball team winning the first ever team state championship for Mountain Home High School.

"Not only do I feel this class was worthy of being called great, I think it's safe to say that this was a historic class," said Johnson.

Johnson thanked the entire faculty of Mountain Home High School for their dedication to teaching and aiding in the academic success of the graduating class.

Johnson recognized the five staff members who officially retired this year: Lea Everett, Sharon Newbury, Deb Shrum, Marty Siegwein and Janet Wagner.

"I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with all of you on a daily basis and appreciate your compassion and dedication to our students," said Johnson prior to asking the faculty to stand and receive applause from the students.

Johnson also recognized the district-level administrators for their work with the students.

"While they are not in the building with the students they make decisions every day that directly affect our students," said Johnson.

In attendance for the ceremony were school superintendant Tim McMurtrey, board chairman Jim Alexander, assistant superintendant James Gilbert and board members Luise House, Toni Reynolds, Tom Rodney and Jo Gridley, who after 17 years will soon be leaving her position on the school board.

"You have been a great advocate for the students of the Mountain Home School District and I appreciate your service," said Johnson in recognition of Gridley.

Johnson then proceeded with commencement tradition and asked the students to stand and give their appreciation to their family and friends in the stands.

"Without your help, these students would not be before us tonight to receive their diplomas," said Johnson.

Johnson spoke on how the class of 2009 has benefited from the generosity of local and national scholarships. To date, the class has accepted approximately $515,017 in local and national scholarships.

Prior to introducing the 2009 co-valedictorians: Alexis Howe, Lindsay Kellerman, April Kerbyson and Alycia Crandall, Johnson took time to recognize the 53 honor students for the 2009 class.

Howe opened her speech by reciting an Arabian proverb: "All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move."

"The class of 2009 has exemplified all three," said Howe.

Howe spoke on Johnson's address to the senior class during the first assembly of the school year.

"We were movable as time passed and our lives changed. We adjusted to the circumstances and difficulties that came our way.

"There is not any one of you out there who can say that they didn't, because if that were true you would not be here today. You endured and improved," said Howe.

Howe spoke on how the graduating class will, "move forward as a generation of youth with bright futures and bright dreams."

"We have been equipped with the necessary knowledge to take the next big leaps of life. We will go on," said Howe.

Howe suggested to her fellow classmates to explore their options for the future and recited a quote from Mark Twain: "Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."

Howe concluded her speech by issuing her appreciation to her family, friends and to the teachers, notably Mr. Bundy for teaching her Chinese.

"It's been a great four years, in fact for a lot of us, it's been 11 or 12. I will miss everyone and the times that we've shared. It's been awesome," said Howe.

Kellerman opened her speech on the significance of being a graduate.

"When we hold the certificate in our hands, it will mark a changing point in our lives. In that single second it is the end of our childhood and the beginning of the rest of our lives."

Kellerman spoke about how during the last few months of school, she thought about the moment when she would finally be finished, but she was unaware of how it would feel.

"Now I'm here standing in front of you, and I'm still unsure of my reaction. It all feels surreal, like a fairy tale. In many ways I feel like I am stuck inside the story Peter Pan, and high school is my Never Never Land," said Kellerman.

In keeping with the fairy tale premise, Kellerman talked about how everyone is connected through a web of stories and how they lived their own fairy tales and had their own adventures.

"By being here in Mountain Home, we have intertwined our childhood. Each of us has played a part, but now we must leave the stories behind. Even Peter Pan had to leave Never Never Land. He had to grow up, leave his childhood behind and take on responsibility," said Kellerman.

Kellerman closed her speech by talking about the adventure that the graduates will soon be embarking on and the choices they will make along the way.

"When things get tough, we can look back on high school and remember the experiences we had and the lessons we learned. We may be leaving Never Never Land, but we can keep the memories of it forever in our hearts," said Kellerman.

Kerbyson began her speech by thanking the parents, guests, faculty and trustees for their support in celebrating the commencement and congratulated the students for their efforts.

"As I look out onto this field, I see the many friends I know and the different talents, abilities and characteristics, which makes everyone unique, and I am reminded of just how awesome our class really is."

Kerbyson recognized the teachers and coaches who guided and inspired the students during the school year.

"They knew our limits when sometimes we didn't know ours. In actuality, they helped us to discover that we could go far and do anything as long as we had a bit of patience and put our minds to do it," said Kerbyson.

Kerbyson issued her appreciation to several individuals; her mom and dad, her sister Krystle, teachers Blake Olmstead and Tonya Page and to the rest of her family who traveled from the other side of the country to support her.

Kerbyson then compared the graduating class to a stream.

As told by Kerbyson, the students came from different places until they meet up at a lake. For the next four years they experience different things until they separate and split off, finding their own little creek to flow down and eventually reach their goal, the ocean.

"I'm not sure what your goal place is, but when you find it, go after it and don't give up. Don't say it's too hard, or I can't do it," said Kerbyson.

Kerbyson closed her speech by reciting a quote written by William Arthur Ward; "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it."

Crandall chose not to give a speech during the ceremony, however, Johnson did acknowledge her 4.0 grade point average and the fact that Crandall was graduating a year early.

Following the speeches, a moment that the 223 members of the graduating class had been waiting for, the awarding of their diplomas began.

As each member of the graduating class made their way on the stage, they shook hands with Johnson and received their diplomas from members of the school board.

Several of the students performed various antics while on stage, including odd dances, walks, poses and most notably senior Eli Holland grabbing the microphone and yelling "Hi, Mom!"

Following the presentation of the diplomas, Johnson presented the class of 2009 as the students flung their caps into the air in jubilation for a successful tenure.

When the ceremony came to a end, the family and friends in attendance flocked to the center of Tiger Field to hug and kiss their graduates while taking pictures and presenting them with balloons, flowers, leis and candy leis.

"I think it went really well. There were no beach balls thrown during the ceremony, and that was my goal," said a tired Johnson immediately following the ceremony.

Musical entertainment was provided by the MHHS Concert Band, the MHHS Jazz Choir who sung "Fields of Gold" by Sting and the MHHS A Capella Choir who performed the school's alma mater and "In My Life" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

For more photos, see the Mountain Home News Photo Gallery.