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Photo by Daniel Lai
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Class of 2007 seniors listen intently as MHS Principal Kevin Mowrer addresses them one last time during Sunday's ceremony
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The accomplishments of the past and the promise of the future were celebrated in grand style Sunday as Manchester High School gave its seniors a big send-off with the Class of 2007 commencement ceremony that was held in the school's gymnasium.
In all, 92 students walked in the graduation exercise and received their diplomas. At the conclusion of the event, Class of 2007 President Lauren Engle led her peers in the shifting of the tassels before the mass of maroon and gold caps were thrown toward the ceiling.
For MHS Principal Kevin Mowrer, it was the final step in watching the maturation of one of his first classes.
"This group was sophomores when I started teaching here, and I got to know about 90 percent of this class very well," Mowrer said. "They will be missed next year."
The graduates are taking many different paths in their post-high school careers. While many graduates will attend various college and universities in Michigan this fall, several students will venture to other parts of the country. Alex Brannock will attend Northern Arizona University, while Travis Church is heading to Murray State University in Kentucky. Lara Wagner is planning to major in international studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. and Adam Wheeler will attend Mars Hill College in North Carolina to study business.
Class valedictorian Madison Schaeffer will major in biology at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and class salutatorian Sam Billetdeaux will study business and Spanish at the University of Michigan.
"They've taken many different routes," Mowrer said. "They are relaying the school's message that we want them do something after they graduate high school."
Three of the loudest ovations during the diploma presentation were for Thomas Crawford, Amanda Hall and Jeremy Satterla. All three will serve the country in the U.S. military. Crawford has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, while Hall enlisted in the Army Reserves. Satterla will travel to West Point in the fall and join the U.S. Army.
"This was a class of strong leaders who pushed others to do the right thing," Mowrer said. "They've really trained the underclassmen to come up in their place next year."
While the students were the stars of the day, they weren't the only ones honored. Three members of the MHS faculty are retiring and were recognized for the final time. Life science and social studies teacher Donna Clark, business technology teacher Sheryl Purol and language arts instructor Jane Weiland were honored for their years of service to MHS students.
The presentation of the class gift also highlighted the commencement exercises. Class officers presented MHS with two benches that will sit on the second floor hallway above the atrium.
Mowrer had high praise for the academic accomplishments of the recent graduates and for the positive influence they had on their peers.
"This class was extremely deep in terms of academics, with 53 of them meeting or exceeding the states standards," Mowrer said. "Most of them were mentors to the freshmen and formed a bond with them socially. They've set a high standard of achievement in and out of the classroom."
Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.
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