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Show ScHo Covering tvhat matters most WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009 • B l SHHS graduates first class Kate Jarman STAFF WRITER Jeril Bills / Spanish Fork News COMMENCEMENT: A Landmark graduate receives his diploma at ceremonies held Wednesday, May 27. Landmark holds '09 graduation Jeril B i l l s STAFF W R I T E R Graduating from high school is an accomplishment many people take for granted. Recent Landmark High School graduate Eulises Ortiz is not one of those people. He is the first in his family to graduate, after a difficult journey that began with him as a frustrated kindergartner who didn't speak English, and nearly ended with his decision to drop out of school and take a job" at a fast food restaurant. Ortiz eventually realized the life of a dropout was not.for him, however, and he made the difficult decision to enroll in school once more. Now the young man who had hated school earlier found himself part of a family at Landmark, where he said teachers encouraged him "when [he] was ready to give up." Now Ortiz is a high school graduate who is excited to be an example to his brothers. He plans to work and save money so he can go to college. On Wednesday, May 27, Landmark High School awarded diplomas to Ortiz and 110 other students who, as principal Joe Kelly put it, "earned the right" to wear the cap and gown. Among that group was Raquel Sorensen. She is not the first in her family to graduate; but, she said, "It would be a first case if I didn't graduate, so I'm very excited that I did." Talking about her road to get to this point, Sorensen said, "I went through a couple struggles, but I finally found the school that was right for me," calling Landmark a place where she was accepted "no matter what happened." The theme of the graduation was "Unforgettably Unimaginable." Four students spoke at the gradu-. ation ceremony, including Ortiz and valedictorian Keirston Dudley, who ran through a list of memories of her time at- Landmark, and said "Landmark's spirit, faculty and students [made me] the person I am today. I graduated high school. I'm going to college. I'm alive, and I have a future, because there are people at Landmark who care. I wasn't just another student or1 troubled kid. I was a person who had a chance to make a change in my life and make something [of] myself." Principal Kelly and Nebo School Board member Rod Oldroyd also ad- "Fm alive, and I have a future, because there are people at Landmark who care." - Keirston Dudley dressed the graduates. Kelly encouraged students to remember their roots and reach for the sky, keep the heart of the dragon (the school's mascot) alive, treasure knowledge and learning and to live their destiny to become a significant person". He told graduates to dream big, saying "You can accomplish unimaginable things in your lives." Oldroyd spoke of a billboard he had seen about Abraham Lincoln, that said "failed, failed, failed" across the top. Lower down, to the right of Lincoln's picture, appeared the word "persistence:" Oldroyd commended graduates for their persistence, saying, "You have tried, and tried, arid tried, and you've persisted, and we're darn proud of you for doing that." After the ceremony, - Principal Kelly said he was proud of every graduate. "Every one of them has a story, and every one of them has overcome a lot to be there tonight," he said. History was made on Wednesday, May 27 when 218 Salem Hills High School seniors graduated: Salem Hills High School, which opened its doors for the first time for the 200809 school year, has been the first to open in Nebo School District in over 100 years. The ceremonies included musical numbers, the national anthem, graduate and faculty speakers and the presenting of the graduates and diplomas. The commencement exercises began as the graduating class of 2009 walked onto the track, facing the stand set up on the football field. The American flag descended from the sky, along with the 218 diplomas, carried by two skydivers who landed on the football field. The colors were raised by the American Legion with a gun salute, followed by Christy Pray leading the audience and graduates in singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Senior Class President Wayte Davis welcomed graduates, family, friends and administration. Davis introduced Linsey Johnson, the valedictorian of the class of 2009. Johnson said, "The traditions of learning, school pride and school unity, define US'." Following her was Salutatorian Kiera Cook. Cook walked the listeners through the different experiences in high school, elementary school and junior high. "Learning is great; knowledge is wonderful; but what does it mean if we don't use it in our lives?" she said. Salutatorian Ryan Hyatt followed Cook with his own words of encouragement and love for the class of 2009. The Salem Hills High i' '•• ; ' : ^ : ' ? & j Courtesy photos / Kendall Call, SHHS AIR MAIL: The American flag and the diplomas came to graduation via two skydivers. Below, Salutatorian Ryan Hyatt addresses the graduates. choir stood and sang the official Skyhawks school song. Loudly they sang, pressing forward through the years, we will vanquish all our fears, for the blue and gold of the Skyhawks After the choir returned to their seats, Principal Ann Anderson stood and offered her words to the graduates, regarding SHHS — spirit, heart, honor and success. Debbie Swenson ,of the invited to shift their tassel Nebo School Board of Edu- "from the left to the right, cation spoke as well. after which they threw their Following Swenson's caps into the air, laughing, speech, the graduates of crying and congratulat2009 received their diplo- ing one another. The class mas. of 2009 chanted "We are In closing the ceremo- Skyhawks" proudly before nies, the choir stood again walking off. In the words and sang "And Wherever of Salutatorian Ryan Hyatt, You Go" by Douglas E. "Remember, this day is a Wagner. The choir was di- day of beginning, this voyage has begun. ... The trarected by Justin Bills. The graduates were then dition starts now." SFHS graduation ceremonies held Kate Jarman STAFF WRITER Hosted at the McKay Events Center at UVU, Spanish Fork High School's graduation was held at 2 p.m. before hundreds of family and friends. The class of 2009 was made up of 427 senior students, 418 of whom graduated that afternoon. The class of 2009's motto was "We Define, 2009" Salutatorian Sharisa Nay said, "Because of the people we have known, we have become all we are today." With Nebo School District and SFHS faculty and administration present, the Senior Class President Justin Roberts, Valedictorian Kathryn Dallon and Salutatorian Sharisa Nay spoke. Principal David McKee, as well as Randy Bootne of the Nebo School District Board of Education, also offered their words to the graduates and all who attended. The Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Mrs. Larson and the Concert Choir, conducted by Shea Bradshaw, Kate Jarman / Spanish Fork News WELCOME: Senior Class President Justin Roberts welcomes students, family and friends to the SFHS commencement exercises for 2009. presented the various pieces of music for the commencement ceremony. The entire ceremony, including musical numbers, speeches, videos, the presentation of graduates and diplomas lasted approximately two hours, Even before the ceremoB GRADUATION • ^ |