Sisters graduates celebrate

Commencement marked the final chapter of high school life for 119 graduates Friday, June 6, at the Sisters High School gymnasium.

The ceremony included many indicators of change, from the departure of pPrincipal Boyd Keyser to the fact that it would be the last graduation held in the current high school gym.

In his address to the graduates, Keyser noted that he started with the class of 2003 when they arrived as freshmen, and that he would exit with them as well.

"Four years ago, the class of 2003 and I walked into Sisters High School together and tonight we walk out together," he said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to be associated with such an outstanding group of young people."

Keyser has taken a job in Washington state as the principal at Cle Elum High School in the central part of the state.

Keyser pointed out the many accomplishments the student body achieved over the past four years, including 12 top-four finishes in the state by athletic teams, numerous academic awards and unparalleled creativity in the fine and performing arts.

The audience got a sampling of the school's musical talent during a special presentation by members of the school band, choir and Americana Project class who performed an original song by senior Ben Scharf called "Remembering."

Senior class president Tessa Durdan-Shaw presented two retiring staff members, Sue Beck and Carol Dixon, with flower bouquets in thanks for their many years of dedication to the students of the Sisters School District and announced the purchase of two trees to be planted at the entrance to the new school building as a gift from the senior class.

Salutatorian Kristen Lamoreaux gave heartfelt thanks to her classmates, as well as to the staff and faculty of the high school and to her parents and family.

"So I thank you for letting me learn and grow with every one of you," she said to her classmates. "I have been surrounded by excellence for four years and it has made me a better person."

DeLaney Green, the first of three valedictorians to speak, quoted Albert Einstein to inspire her classmate to live life "as though everything is a miracle.

"Life itself is a miracle," she said, "given to us by the grace of God, but it is our choice to make of it what we will."

Jonathan Green spoke of his first days of high school as a new student who had been home-schooled throughout elementary school and middle school. He soon discovered the caliber and personality of his class.

"I had no idea what I was going to do when I started," he said. "There is no doubt that these students are the most broadly talented group that we will see come through this school for a long time."

And finally, Laura Leis shared the analogy of high school being not quite real, like Kraft Singles not quite being like real cheese.

"Kraft Singles kind of resemble real cheese," she said. "They even have some of the same ingredients as real cheese.

"You can see that high school consists of real life, too," she said.

She went on to urge her classmates, now that their appetites are whetted for real cheese, that they should go out and discover brie, roquefort, gouda and other types of cheese.

"Carpe cheeseum!" she shouted. "Seize the cheese!"

Following the speeches, seniors presented flowers to their mothers and proceeded to gather on the floor in front of the big screen to enjoy a fabulous video, produced by members of the class, that included baby pictures, senior pictures and video clips from earlier school years.

The pinnacle of the evening arrived as School Board Chairman Jeff Smith and Principal Keyser presented diplomas to each member of the class. Mortarboards were flung in the air and the class of 2003 made its way out of the gym to meet with family members and other well-wishers and into the world to find "real cheese."