Oh, the places they'll go! Graduation 1997

Seventy-five seniors began the next step in their lives' journeys at the Sisters High School commencement on Friday, May 30 in the high school gym.

The Class of 1997 theme was "Oh, the places we'll go!" taken from the title of a book by Dr. Seuss. But the theme could have just as easily been "Oh, the places we've been!" as the salutatory and valedictory speeches included reflections as well as projections about the class.

And the senior video gave the audience a delightful look -- from diapers to diplomas -- at lives and times of the class members.

After the traditional presentation of flowers from seniors to their mothers, Caleah Conrad, class salutatorian, spoke of the past and future of the class.

"Thirteen years ago I began a journey by walking through the front doors of Sisters Elementary School," Conrad said. "Today, that journey ends, two miles and a thousand lessons from where it began. We have all succeeded (by graduating) and I know that we will continue to succeed; we will accomplish great things."

Co-valedictorian Jennifer Tartaglia looked back with some regret at what she hadn't done during her high school years and gave a bit of advice to her fellow graduates:

"It seems like just last week that I was a freshman, and there are so many things I never stopped to enjoy: sports I never tried out for, clubs I never joined, friends I never made. Don't let this happen to you; live today, not tomorrow."

Bryanne Elder, the other valedictorian, praised parents for getting their children to this point and reminded her classmates that failure is certain to come along with success.

But, she told them, "if we start with a clear vision of our dream and have the determination to see it through, we can overcome obstacles. Quoting Dr. Seuss, 'You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.'"

Anne Noel and Megan McGuire gave their final high school musical performances in an upbeat rendition of "Good Times and Bad Times." Noel sang and McGuire played the saxophone. The vocal ensemble, directed by Jody Henderson, provided backup vocals for the piece.

After a reading of scholarship winners by Vice-Principal Richard Shultz, Principal Dennis Dempsey made a special presentation to senior Adam Rosencrantz for the countless hours he contributed to the school as a light and sound technician for concerts, plays, and even graduations over the past four years.

A standing ovation by the middle and high school faculty made it the most touching moment of the evening, rivaled only by the hug Dennis Dempsey got from his youngest daughter Heather, the last student of the evening to receive her diploma.

Dempsey provided the final remarks of the evening.

"Don't worry too much," he said. "Live up to your expectations and not someone else's, don't let the negative people in the world siphon you dry, take your passion and make it happen, take time for your family and friends, and don't forget to be crazy from time to time because a life is worth living only if you truly live it."