GRADUATION (see video) High School Seniors Receive Diplomas

  • Graduating seniors shift their tassels from the right to the left side of their mortarboards to signify graduation. [Hedlund Photos]

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    Graduating seniors shift their tassels from the right to the left side of their mortarboards to signify graduation. [Hedlund Photos]

  • Tossing the mortarboards into the sky after the ceremony is an honored tradition. [Hedlund Photos]

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    Tossing the mortarboards into the sky after the ceremony is an honored tradition. [Hedlund Photos]

  • The hats themselves have become works of art for many of the excited graduates. This one was made by ASB President Danielle Culver.[Hedlund Photos]

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    The hats themselves have become works of art for many of the excited graduates. This one was made by ASB President Danielle Culver.[Hedlund Photos]

  • Graduate Joey Teare is on his way to study International Relations at Northern Arizona University.[Hedlund Photos]

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    Graduate Joey Teare is on his way to study International Relations at Northern Arizona University.[Hedlund Photos]

Presenting the Frazier Mountain High School Graduating Class of 2011. Congratulations graduates!

VIDEO
By Patric Hedlund

Struggle makes a prize shine more brightly. So it was inspiring to see the determination, pride and accomplishment in the faces of this year’s Class of 2011 as they graduated Thursday, June 9 from Frazier Mountain High School. Parents and grandparents from as far away as New York City gathered to cheer and cry at this rite of passage, as diplomas were awarded and the community sent this year’s graduates forward into life.

Interim Prinicipal Charles ‘Buck’ Weber introduced Ariel Hagelstein who led the flag salute and then sang an edgy version of the Star Spangled Banner.

Student speakers Deyanira Rubio, Nick Pilgram and Danielle Culver offered humor and wisdom in their comments, thanking the faculty for “pushing me to be exceptional in my learning,” quoting Henry Ford (“Anyone who stops learning is old no matter what their age”) and expressing gratitude to departed friends for encouragement and inspiration. Robert Burns remembered Shelly Mason, Nick Bettis and Michael Manning.

Joey Teare summed it up, saying, “this is the small town that will always be our home.”

A favorite hometown tradition of the Mountain Communities requires that some organizations hold fundraisers all year in order to provide scholarships and recognition to the graduating seniors who have excelled. This year, on June 6, these graduates were recipients of special honors:
* Mountain Memories Association: Robert Burns and Christina Schultz
* FMHS Booster Club: Charlie Pivetti, Leah Brennan and Robert Burns
* Classified School Employees Association, Chapter 552: Morgan Decker
* VFW Ladies Post and Auxilary 9791: Alexander McCue and Charlie Pivetti
* Jizo Peace Award: Robert Burns
* The Gefter Scholarship:Josh Smith
* James Biehl Memorial Leadership: Leah Brennan and Charlie Pivetti
* Tejon Ranch: Christina Schultz, Robert Burns and Danielle Culver
* Hall Ambulance: Christina Schultz
* Cash for College: Amy Mack
* Shelly Mason Scholarship for Academic Excellence: Samuel Han, Christian Walker, Isabella Frederiksen, Crystal Walker, Christina Schultz, Morgan Decker, Danielle Culver, Robert Burns, Joshua Smith and Nicholas Pilgram
* Pine Mountain Village Merchants Assn. Award: Steve Panaigua and Danielle Culver
* CSF Awards: Buddy Cooper, Nick Pilgram, Danielle Culver, Charlie Pivetti and Christian Walker
* Special Education Award: Josh Stiles
* English Award: Robert Burns
* Foreign Language Award: Sam Han
* Mathematics Award: Nick Pilgram
* Physical Education: Michael Moracco
* Social Science: Summer Janis
* Science Award: Nick Pilgram
* Technology Award: Crystal Walker
* Art Award: Amber Martinez
* FFA Award: Joshua Neeley
* Continuation School Awards: Carmen Alvarez and Amber Sandt
* Male Athlete of the Year: Robert Burns
* Female Athlete of the Year:Jackie Hoffman
* Young Lady of the Year: Danielle Culver
* Young Man of the Year: Robert Burns
 

This is part of the July 01, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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