By LARRY ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
The only thing higher than the temperature outside Ephrata High School on Wednesday was the excitement level of the 291 students of the Class of 2011 inside the building.
Donning their caps and gowns, they mingled in the corridors they would soon be leaving for the last time, chatted with friends, thought about the past and anticipated the future with a mixture of eagerness and dread.
"I'm excited," said Johanna Jimenez-Montoya, who plans to go to college and study criminal justice. "But I'm also sad and scared. Definitely."
Many of the graduates shared their emotions, even though they have definite plans for their lives beyond high school.
Brian Clifford will be joining the military, "most likely the Navy," he said.
Richard Barclay will be looking for a full-time summer job. He plans to keep "it for as long as I need to" while taking general education courses, possibly at Harrisburg Area Community College "or even F&M, if I can afford it." Later, he hopes to enter a state college and major in communications.
Anna Yermolov will attend Temple University to study speech pathology, while Brandi Harvest will join the National Guard and, after that, study criminal justice. Kayla Gordon will attend Alvernia University in Reading to become an athletic trainer.
Even as they prepared to leave what class valedictorian Nathaniel Latshaw called "the multicolored tile corridors" with "questionable color schemes" of Ephrata High School, all have things they will look back on fondly.
For some, it will be a favorite teacher such as Michael DelPiano who, Yermolov said, "made learning fun and exciting." For others, it will be class events such as Culture Day for language students.
"All of the classes came together, and we had a whole bunch of food and hung out," Clifford recalled. "It was a day for getting to know everyone."
Barclay enjoyed his days working with Ephrata AM, the school's television broadcast station.
"Even though it meant I had to be here early every day, it was still a great time working with people in front of the cameras, behind the scenes and things like that," he said.
The graduation ceremony was held on War Memorial Field, which is flat as a griddle and felt just as hot. In the grandstands, white programs fluttered like feathers as friends and family members of the graduates tried to fan away the stifling heat of the late-day sun.
At several locations, orange-and-white barrel-shaped coolers filled with cold water, along with plastic cups, were available for all who needed a drink.
Here and there, soap bubbles rose up, then, caught on the evening breeze, wafted gently over a sea of purple-and-gold gowns.
Class president Lauren Smith told her classmates that the world they have known for the past 12 years is about to end, and a new world is starting.
"Tonight marks the end of a journey and the beginning of a lifetime," she said.
Some, like Dion Deamer, who hopes to one day own his own auto-repair shop, were eager for that lifetime to commence.
"I'm just ready to get out of here," he said.
Donning their caps and gowns, they mingled in the corridors they would soon be leaving for the last time, chatted with friends, thought about the past and anticipated the future with a mixture of eagerness and dread.
"I'm excited," said Johanna Jimenez-Montoya, who plans to go to college and study criminal justice. "But I'm also sad and scared. Definitely."
Many of the graduates shared their emotions, even though they have definite plans for their lives beyond high school.
Brian Clifford will be joining the military, "most likely the Navy," he said.
Richard Barclay will be looking for a full-time summer job. He plans to keep "it for as long as I need to" while taking general education courses, possibly at Harrisburg Area Community College "or even F&M, if I can afford it." Later, he hopes to enter a state college and major in communications.
Anna Yermolov will attend Temple University to study speech pathology, while Brandi Harvest will join the National Guard and, after that, study criminal justice. Kayla Gordon will attend Alvernia University in Reading to become an athletic trainer.
Even as they prepared to leave what class valedictorian Nathaniel Latshaw called "the multicolored tile corridors" with "questionable color schemes" of Ephrata High School, all have things they will look back on fondly.
For some, it will be a favorite teacher such as Michael DelPiano who, Yermolov said, "made learning fun and exciting." For others, it will be class events such as Culture Day for language students.
"All of the classes came together, and we had a whole bunch of food and hung out," Clifford recalled. "It was a day for getting to know everyone."
Barclay enjoyed his days working with Ephrata AM, the school's television broadcast station.
"Even though it meant I had to be here early every day, it was still a great time working with people in front of the cameras, behind the scenes and things like that," he said.
The graduation ceremony was held on War Memorial Field, which is flat as a griddle and felt just as hot. In the grandstands, white programs fluttered like feathers as friends and family members of the graduates tried to fan away the stifling heat of the late-day sun.
At several locations, orange-and-white barrel-shaped coolers filled with cold water, along with plastic cups, were available for all who needed a drink.
Here and there, soap bubbles rose up, then, caught on the evening breeze, wafted gently over a sea of purple-and-gold gowns.
Class president Lauren Smith told her classmates that the world they have known for the past 12 years is about to end, and a new world is starting.
"Tonight marks the end of a journey and the beginning of a lifetime," she said.
Some, like Dion Deamer, who hopes to one day own his own auto-repair shop, were eager for that lifetime to commence.
"I'm just ready to get out of here," he said.
EHS graduating 295 at ceremony tonight Nathaniel Todd Latshaw
Latshaw named valedictorian
Staff Writer
Ephrata High School announced Monday that senior Nathaniel Todd Latshaw is Valedictorian for the Class of 2011.
Latshaw, who was also a star player on the EHS soccer team last fall, will join classmates Catie Eckman, Robert McGlaughlan, and Chris Prosser, as well as class president Lauren Smith on the stage, as a featured speaker during commencement exercises set for 7 p.m., Wed. June 8 at Ephrata War Memorial Field.
All eligible graduates are pictured in this issue and can be found on pages A16-18.
The evening's program will begin a prelude by the graduation choir followed by the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" and "Star-Spangled Banner," also sung by the graduation choir.
An introduction by the superintendent, Dr. Gerald B. Rosati, will precede the class president's welcome, followed by some remarks by the principal, Mrs. Joane Eby.
After the class speakers have shared their memories and inspiring words, Principal Eby will present the graduates, accompanied by a message by the Board of Education president, Timothy W. Stayer.
This year's senior class, whose motto is "Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to be the person you believe you were meant to be," by Dr. George Sheehan, is comprised of many students who have reached high academic standing. Graduates who have attained a 4.0 GPA are designated as Summa Cum Laude; Cum Laude, 3.75; Academic Excellence, 3.5; and Honor Graduates, 3.0.
The Board of School Directors -- Timothy W. Stayer, president; Robert E. Miller, vice-president; Clare LeFevre, secretary; Jean Hornberger, treasurer; Judy Beiler; Marty Harmes; Ted Kachel; Kay Kurtz; Glenn R. Martin; Jenny Miller; Neal D. Reichard; and Allyson Snyder -- will present the diplomas to the graduating seniors.
The Alma Mater, postlude and recessional will conclude the events of the evening.
The graduation season kicked off in late May with the senior awards assembly (awards listed last week) and the prom. Ceremonies continued this week, with a Baccelaureate service on Sunday at Ephrata Community Church (see photos in this issue), and of course, the main event tonight.
In case of inclement weather, commencement exercises will be held at Ephrata Middle School and admission, then, would be by ticket only. More GRADUATION, page A22
Latshaw, who was also a star player on the EHS soccer team last fall, will join classmates Catie Eckman, Robert McGlaughlan, and Chris Prosser, as well as class president Lauren Smith on the stage, as a featured speaker during commencement exercises set for 7 p.m., Wed. June 8 at Ephrata War Memorial Field.
All eligible graduates are pictured in this issue and can be found on pages A16-18.
The evening's program will begin a prelude by the graduation choir followed by the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" and "Star-Spangled Banner," also sung by the graduation choir.
An introduction by the superintendent, Dr. Gerald B. Rosati, will precede the class president's welcome, followed by some remarks by the principal, Mrs. Joane Eby.
After the class speakers have shared their memories and inspiring words, Principal Eby will present the graduates, accompanied by a message by the Board of Education president, Timothy W. Stayer.
This year's senior class, whose motto is "Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to be the person you believe you were meant to be," by Dr. George Sheehan, is comprised of many students who have reached high academic standing. Graduates who have attained a 4.0 GPA are designated as Summa Cum Laude; Cum Laude, 3.75; Academic Excellence, 3.5; and Honor Graduates, 3.0.
The Board of School Directors -- Timothy W. Stayer, president; Robert E. Miller, vice-president; Clare LeFevre, secretary; Jean Hornberger, treasurer; Judy Beiler; Marty Harmes; Ted Kachel; Kay Kurtz; Glenn R. Martin; Jenny Miller; Neal D. Reichard; and Allyson Snyder -- will present the diplomas to the graduating seniors.
The Alma Mater, postlude and recessional will conclude the events of the evening.
The graduation season kicked off in late May with the senior awards assembly (awards listed last week) and the prom. Ceremonies continued this week, with a Baccelaureate service on Sunday at Ephrata Community Church (see photos in this issue), and of course, the main event tonight.
In case of inclement weather, commencement exercises will be held at Ephrata Middle School and admission, then, would be by ticket only. More GRADUATION, page A22
Ephrata seniors' dream evening
During the commencement, a petition circulated in honor of a former teacher killed by a texting driver.
By LARRY ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
The scene was as old as public education itself; seniors arriving at school, donning caps and gowns, saying good-bye to friends and lining up to take that final walk as high school students.
That was the experience of the 288 seniors in Ephrata High School's Class of 2010 Thursday, during the 115th annual commencement ceremony at War Memorial Field.
Lauren Dixon, class president, said she was "nervous," both about graduation and about having to give a speech, but she also was "kind of excited."
Dixon had two jobs, Thursday. One was to give the welcoming speech to the parents and the other was to honor the memory of teacher Jean Good by asking her classmates to sign a petition vowing not to use hand-held cell phones or to text-message while driving.
Dixon said she heard about the cell phone campaign in social issues class while watching the Oprah Show episode that featured Lancaster County native Jacy Good, who was injured in the same 2008 crash that killed her parents; a crash caused by someone using a cell phone. Jacy's mother, Jean Good, was a former Ephrata Middle School teacher.
"It hit close to home with our class because of Mrs. Good," Dixon said. "Everybody in the class got emotional, so I took it upon myself to get a petition going here."
So far, she said, she had 122 signatures and would try to collect more after the ceremony.
Morgan Porter saw graduation as "letting go of the past" and thinking "this is the start of a whole new life."
Rachel Engleman, whose grandfather, Terry, is a retired Ephrata track coach and math teacher (who tried unsuccessfully to teach algebra to this reporter in seventh grade), said, "I'm so excited to graduate. It was a lot of hard work, but tonight's when it pays off."
She plans to attend Lebanon Valley College and major in elementary education.
"I'm following in my grandpa's footsteps," she said.
Jonathan Brynarsky said, "It's graduation. I'm ready to throw the hat up in the air and get going," while Alexander Badie admitted to being "excited" but also " a little bit scared."
"I'm actually sad to leave," said Seth Zeiset. "I had a great time here."
But the time to leave came, and the seniors donned their purple and gold caps and gowns which, for the first time in 115 years, the students purchased, and lined up.
As the school band under director Scott Fairchild played "Pomp and Circumstance," the class of 2010 filed across the lush green grass of the War Memorial Field to hoots and hollers by family members in the bleachers.
The setting sun seemed a fitting farewell to the graduates, and Ephrata Superintendent Gerald Rosati, commenting on the event and the picture-perfect weather, called it "a night when dreams come true."
A sea of young people seated before him could not have agreed more.
That was the experience of the 288 seniors in Ephrata High School's Class of 2010 Thursday, during the 115th annual commencement ceremony at War Memorial Field.
Lauren Dixon, class president, said she was "nervous," both about graduation and about having to give a speech, but she also was "kind of excited."
Dixon had two jobs, Thursday. One was to give the welcoming speech to the parents and the other was to honor the memory of teacher Jean Good by asking her classmates to sign a petition vowing not to use hand-held cell phones or to text-message while driving.
Dixon said she heard about the cell phone campaign in social issues class while watching the Oprah Show episode that featured Lancaster County native Jacy Good, who was injured in the same 2008 crash that killed her parents; a crash caused by someone using a cell phone. Jacy's mother, Jean Good, was a former Ephrata Middle School teacher.
"It hit close to home with our class because of Mrs. Good," Dixon said. "Everybody in the class got emotional, so I took it upon myself to get a petition going here."
So far, she said, she had 122 signatures and would try to collect more after the ceremony.
Morgan Porter saw graduation as "letting go of the past" and thinking "this is the start of a whole new life."
Rachel Engleman, whose grandfather, Terry, is a retired Ephrata track coach and math teacher (who tried unsuccessfully to teach algebra to this reporter in seventh grade), said, "I'm so excited to graduate. It was a lot of hard work, but tonight's when it pays off."
She plans to attend Lebanon Valley College and major in elementary education.
"I'm following in my grandpa's footsteps," she said.
Jonathan Brynarsky said, "It's graduation. I'm ready to throw the hat up in the air and get going," while Alexander Badie admitted to being "excited" but also " a little bit scared."
"I'm actually sad to leave," said Seth Zeiset. "I had a great time here."
But the time to leave came, and the seniors donned their purple and gold caps and gowns which, for the first time in 115 years, the students purchased, and lined up.
As the school band under director Scott Fairchild played "Pomp and Circumstance," the class of 2010 filed across the lush green grass of the War Memorial Field to hoots and hollers by family members in the bleachers.
The setting sun seemed a fitting farewell to the graduates, and Ephrata Superintendent Gerald Rosati, commenting on the event and the picture-perfect weather, called it "a night when dreams come true."
A sea of young people seated before him could not have agreed more.
