St. Petersburg High School

[Times photo: Kevin German]

Seniors walk to the stadium for St. Petersburg High School's commencement Thursday night. The ceremony included 396 seniors, and the graduating class earned more than $1.8-million in college scholarships.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING IN CEREMONY: 396

VALEDICTORIANS: Marla DeVicente, traditional program; Mary Frances Angermeier, International Baccalaureate program.

SALUTATORIANS: Jaclyn Palmerino, Rida Wali, traditional program; Melissa Cozart, Jose Noriega, International Baccalaureate program.

SPEAKERS: Welcome address by principal Linda Benware; student government president James Lang; senior class president Grant Bond; valedictorians DeVicente and Angermeier.

BEST QUOTE: "Don't believe your death is imminent, but know it could be," senior class president Grant Bond.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Seniors snagged more than $1.8-million in total college scholarships.

LENGTH OF CEREMONY: One hour, 35 minutes on Stewart Field.

AWARDS: George Icke Memorial Scholarship, to Lieu Huynh; Paul Pollack Memorial Scholarship, to Alana Caruthers; Bond-Hammond Scholarship of $500, to Jose Noriega.

CLASS GIFT: Raised $5,500 to overhaul patio and install fountain.

BEHIND THE SCENES: As students and adults prepared to leave the auditorium for the football field, an administrator shouted directions to faculty. People fanned themselves with programs.

SCENES AND SIGHTS: A gentle breeze on the athletic field replaced the humidity of the auditorium. As sunset gave way to dusk, an occasional balloon rose over the floodlights and traveled east.

SEPT. 11: "The way we respond to Sept. 11 will define our generation for the future," student government president James Lang said.

TOTAL LENGTH OF SPEECHES: 33 minutes, 30 seconds.

AVERAGE TIME OF HANDSHAKE: One second.

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