Clearwater High School

[Times photo: Kinfay Moroti]

Clearwater High School graduates line up along the track at Jack White Stadium, waiting to hear the strains of Pomp and Circumstance, their signal that the commencement ceremony was beginning.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING IN CEREMONY: 334

VALEDICTORIAN: Jessica Freilich

SALUTATORIAN: Amber Peabody

SPEAKERS: Freilich; student body president Nicole Wilson; student government president Karina Reybitz; and class historian Casey Jonap.

BEST QUOTE: "Don't chew with your mouth open," Casey Jonap, after presenting the senior class gift, a new table in the seniors' cafeteria.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: As freshmen, won the class powderpuff championship, a school first.

LENGTH OF CEREMONY: 1 hour, 37 minutes

CLASS GIFT: A table for the senior cafeteria commemorating the 2001-2002 school year

BEHIND THE SCENES: The swim team and cheerleaders each sold water at Thursday's outdoor event. The swim team's water was $1 cheaper.

SCENES AND SIGHTS: As the graduates marched in, a plane flew over Jack White Stadium with a banner reading: "Good luck Class of '02. With heavenly love, Ricky," in memory of CHS student Ricky Teal, who died in a car accident this year.

SEPT. 11: Student president Nicole Wilson led a moment of silence to honor the victims of Sept. 11 and in memory of Teal.

CELL PHONES: As the roll of graduates was called, graduate Sean Juhl called his friend Andrew Spence sitting at the top of the grandstand to pass the time. TOTAL LENGTH OF SPEECHES: Eight references to God, a C.S. Lewis quote and one poem -- 25 minutes.

AVERAGE TIME OF HANDSHAKE: 1 second -- graduates dancing down the platform lasted an average of five seconds.

POP CULTURE: Three posters were held up from the top of the home grandstand during the ceremony with the numbers "420" written in marker.

PATRIOTISM: Graduate Harry Bowerman showed his love for super heroes, sewing the Superman logo to the back of his graduation robe.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright