Zephyrhills seniors remember, dream

By CARY DAVIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 4, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- In a two-hour ceremony filled with smiles and tears, fist-pumping and mugging for the cameras, Zephyrhills High graduated the class of 2000 Friday night and sent the 295 young men and women out into the world to make their mark as adults.

About 4,000 people packed the floor and stands in the school's gymnasium, cheering and preserving the historic night in an endless explosion of camera flashes as student speakers praised their classmates' accomplishments and urged them to follow their dreams.

"Use your gifts and follow your hearts," senior David Fettig told fellow graduates. "Dream big, dream often and just dream."

For the class of 2000, good things seemed to always come in bunches.

Led by seniors, the school's baseball and volleyball teams capped historic seasons by advancing all the way to the state Final Four. In another rare double, two members of the senior class, Michael Hazell and Jerry Mitchell, won appointments to the U. S. Military Academy in West Point.

So it seemed appropriate when class president Ashlee Moore was unexpectedly joined on stage for her speech by her identical twin sister, Amber, the class vice president.

Ashlee said it wouldn't have felt right if Amber didn't share the moment. After all, in their junior year, Amber was class president and Ashlee was the vice president.

"It was only natural," she said. "Amber is always finishing my sentences anyway."

The twins will both attend Hillsborough Community College in the fall, the beginning of their shared goal of someday becoming elementary school teachers.

The classes' three co-valedictorians -- Deanna Hasenauer, Rekha Krishnaraj and Pamela Moses -- reflected on the last four years and told classmates to keep their memories of Zephyrhills High close to their hearts as they strive for success in the future.

"We have all shared memories, and those memories will always be with us," Krishnaraj said. "Enjoy what life has to offer and create more memories along the way."

They also thanked their teachers, parents, classmates and the community for offering so much encouragement over the years.

"The community of Zephyrhills is the best and most supportive community I've ever seen," Moses said. "I know the class of 2000 will make Zephyrhills proud.'"

Salutatorian Michelle Krystofiak described the night as a "turning point in our lives."

"The past is rooted in sentiment," she said, "and the future is full of hope."

About half of the class will pursue college educations, and most will do so in Florida, principal Jim Davis said. Seniors received $80,000 in scholarship money from local donors, a record for the school.

Davis said he's not surprised the class of 2000 accomplished what it did.

"This is a very unique class," he said before the ceremony. "There are a lot of great stories."

There was only one empty seat in the house Friday night.

In a poignant reminder that the class has also known tragedy, a chair on the gym floor was left vacant in honor of Loy Hardwick, the father of graduate Justin Hardwick. Loy Hardwick, 44, was fatally beaten with a barbell in his front yard April 26, reportedly while trying to protect Justin from a group of teens who showed up looking for a fight.

Relatives said the empty chair also represented their hope that the killer would be brought to justice.

For 40 minutes, graduates filed up to the stage to receive their diplomas from Davis and have their tassels turned by Pasco School Board member Jean Larkin.

Two students tripped at Larkin's feet, although it was unclear whether their falls were planned or accidental. Both students leapt to their feet and raised their arms in triumph.

Before graduates walked out into the muggy night, senior Timothy Burkowske offered some final inspirational words for classmates.

"As long as we have hope," he said, "nothing can stop us from reaching our goals, no matter what they are."

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