Schools

Pomp and circumstance to clip and save

You think you'll never forget your high school graduation, and the names of your classmates, and what it felt like, but you will, and you'll be shocked at how quickly it happens.

By MICHAEL KRUSE
Published May 28, 2007

TAMPA - You think you'll never forget your high school graduation, and the names of your classmates, and what it felt like, but you will, and you'll be shocked at how quickly it happens, so here, members of the Land O'Lakes Class of 2007, is something maybe you can clip and keep and bring back out and look at 10, 20, 50 years from now.

You graduated on a hot and hazy Saturday morning.

The ceremony was at the Sun Dome at the University of South Florida, where it cost five bucks to park and the air conditioning inside was very, very cold.

There were 475 of you. Biggest class in Land O'Lakes history. Until '08.

Big digital scoreboards up in the corners told you congratulations as you walked in to Pomp and Circumstance. The processional started just after 11 a.m., and first there was a little applause, then there was a lot of applause, then folks were standing.

Teachers and administrators sat on a big stage decorated with ferns in front. You sat in rows and rows of folding chairs set up in the middle of the wide concrete floor.

Brittney Williams sang "Love Is All That Matters."

Lauren Healey sang the national anthem.

Short speeches were given by Class of '98 grad and current state Rep. Will Weatherford, student body president Aysha Malik, senior class president Julia O'Keefe, valedictorian Sara Ippolito, salutatorian Korey Lane, International Baccalaureate valedictorian Paula Te and International Baccalaureate salutatorian Chirag Kulahalli.

They told you to set goals and dreams and to find something you love doing and to do it for a living and to get back up when you get knocked down and to make your own reality and to make it a good one.

O'Keefe harkened back to the "massive food fight" freshman year.

Lane started his speech like this: "Wow, y'all."

They quoted Winston Churchill, Robert F. Kennedy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama.

They thanked mom and dad, brothers and sisters, teachers and God.

Then the speeches were over. It was time for the long line of handshakes and hugs and the distribution of the pieces of paper that say you now have a chance.

Let the record stand: Starting at 11:49, you, the members of the Land O'Lakes Class of '07, stood and climbed the stairs and walked for the first time up onto the big stage.

Michael Kruse can be reached at mkruse@sptimes.com.

Fast Facts:

LAND O'LAKES

School stats

Graduates: 475

Bright Futures Scholars: 201

All kinds: For their senior projects, Cory Archuleta built a computer, Brittany Herrera made cabinets and Valerie Bussatti did Hebrew dancing.

[Last modified May 28, 2007, 07:02:15]