LHS to hold graduation

LHS to hold graduation

By Stephanie Cochrane and Katy Granath Posted June 3, 2009

As a road ends, a new path begins. Tomorrow evening the students of Lowry High School’s class of 2009 will proudly walk across a stage, collect their diplomas, and shake a few hands to publicly announce that they are stepping off a shared road onto individually chosen paths.

Thousands will gather at the Winnemucca Events Center at 7 p.m. to honor this year’s graduating class at its commencement ceremony. The graduation will include a decoration theme of silver and blue with white roses. Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” will be featured as the class song.

Lowry’s commencement exercises will involve performances from the high school’s pep band and swing choir, as well as speeches by both administrators and students. Valedictorian Katherine Granath and Salutatorian Sam Buttram will be honored at the ceremony. Both of Lowry’s principals are expected to address the senior class. Granath, and Senior class officers Randy Schmueser, Hannah Hammon, and Jayme Poole, will all be speaking to their class during the graduation.

Granath said she appreciates being given the privilege of speaking. “Lowry has taught me about the importance of community,” she said, “I moved here four years ago not knowing anyone and now I’m part of this awesome graduating class. We all know each other, we hang out. I’m really gonna miss it.”

They say the tassel is worth the hassle, and certainly the class of 2009 would agree. Buttram had to complete numerous honors and AP courses at Lowry while maintaining high grades to achieve the honor of Salutatorian, but she never gave up.

“Keep pushing forward no matter how difficult a class is because once you finish it the sense of accomplishment is well worth it,” said Buttram.

Senior Oscar Arechiga has joined the military and will leave mid-summer. “I’m going to miss baseball, and leadership because it was a really fun class,” said Arechiga. “I’m going to miss my friends because where I’m going there is a chance I will never see them again,” he added.

The graduation ceremony is more than a ceremony; it is a symbolic representation of an ending era.

Lowry’s senior class is doing more than just taking memories of high school with them; they will be leaving a legacy behind. Sophomore Dana Pardovich of the Lady Bucks Varsity Softball team is one of many students whose older sibling is graduating this year. “I got hurt one year in softball and I couldn’t move and he moved me off the field, and brought me his sweatshirt, and helped me get situated,” said Pardovich, recounting a time her brother Michael helped her. “I’ll definitely miss hanging out with him.”

The seniors who will walk the stage tomorrow night are an extraordinary group of students who persevered through difficult classes, who succeeded even with the added burden of extracurriculars, sports, learning hardships, or even problems at home. These seniors have pushed their limits and tested their endurance to stick it through their senior year, and they greatly deserve the honor of the graduation they will have tomorrow evening.

Leave a Reply