SPEAKERS: Jennifer Mathis, student council co-president, with opening thought; Woodworth with welcome speech; Katie Rountree, class president, with parting thoughts and presentation of class gift; and Werner with farewell speech.

BEST QUOTE: "The only thing constant in life is change," Rountree recalled her mother telling her. "And boy was she right."

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Getting through a $20-million construction project. They braved power outages, gas leaks, human traffic jams and muddy walkways. They are the first class to graduate from the "new" Dunedin High.

LENGTH OF CEREMONY: An hour and a half at Grant Field.

CLASS GIFT: A $3,000 gift for the beautification of the courtyard.

SCENES AND SIGHTS: Commencement programs were used as makeshift fans by most of the audience to combat the sticky air at Grant Field. Spirited friends and family cheered, sounded blow horns, shook pompoms and waved signs. One sign, congratulating graduate Heather Albert, featured a life-size picture of her.

SEPT. 11: Principal Mildred Reed thanked the class for supporting the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. The students proved they could make a difference through projects such as collecting money for New York firefighters, Reed said.

CELL PHONES: At least three people had cell phone conversations during the ceremony.

PATRIOTISM: Friends and family members brought a spattering of red, white and blue accessories, including a fan, an umbrella, a pompom and a flag bandanna.

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