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By Mila Lira
As the sun began to set behind Picket Post, family and friends began to file into the Superior Memorial Football Field to watch the Class of 2012 walk across that field to receive their diplomas.
At just a little after 6 p.m. the class walked their final steps together as students there were gowned as unit in all black caps and gowns with orange class stoles.
Following the pledge of allegiance and playing of the Star Spangled Banner an inspirational invocation was read by Christopher Grap and Gabrielle Donlin welcomed guests, the class, school staff and administration.
Salutatorian Sabrina Castillo gave her speech and asked her class to not say “Goodbye” but to say “See You Later.” She said in her speech, “I know each and every on of us I ready to step out into our futures and do great things.” She asked her class to remember one thing and that is “to be happy, be happy with whatever you do and do not let anything you do not have the power to change bring you down.” Her speech ended with a poem titled, “It Couldn’t be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest.
Valedictorian Jess Zavala started his speech off saying that he would be quick and the speech would be painless. Zavala commented that he was not standing as a member of this class but as a product of this class. “Each and every one of these people sitting here have had a huge impact on me, whether they know it or not.” He encouraged his classmates to continue to dream big and thanked the parents and guardians for “never giving up on their class.”
The Commencement Speaker this year was Richard Hamill. In his senior year of high school Hamill was paralyzed after a car accident, which led him to open the Will2Walk Foundation. Hamill also serves as the defensive coach for the Superior Panthers. In his speech, Hamill spoke of his accident and how it did not set him back. He spoke of perseverance and “never giving up.” He also spoke of the similarities of his hometown in Michigan to Superior and how our community members are also family members.
Following the speeches, the diplomas were presented by Superintendent Pete Guzman and the Superior School Board and a benediction was read by Peter Palacios. As the commencement song played on the new sound system, the class of 2012 walked off the field as graduates, lined up to face their friends and families in the stands and tossed up their caps. As Mr. Zavala predicted, the graduation was quick and painless. Songs of celebration played as families flocked to congratulate their graduates.
Best Wishes to the Class of 2012! May all your dreams come true.
Click Here For A Slideshow of Graduation
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