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The DeLeon High School graduating class
of 2007, 33 in total, was one of the smallest in recent years,
however, its quality level remained at a high level, as was in
evidence at the Commencement ceremonies at the new gymnasium on
Saturday afternoon, May 26.
A large crowd of happy parents, family
and friends of the graduates, as well as the faculty from all three
school campuses and many scholarship donors, filled the large
gymnasium almost to capacity. A computer-generated music and photo
show featuring the graduates was displayed on two large wall areas
prior to the ceremony. A live camera was used during the ceremony to
project large images of the proceedings onto the same walls.
“Pomp and Circumstance” was played as the
Board of Trustees, school administrators and faculty entered the
assembly, all wearing appropriate graduation ceremony robes. They were
then followed by the candidates for graduation, each entering one by
one.
Following an invocation by Lisa Sepeda
and an introduction by DHS Principal Mark Lewis, a lengthy
presentation of scholarships and graduation awards was made. A
complete listing follows at the end of this article.
Addresses by the class Salutatorian,
Kelsey Menzel, and Valedictorian,
Mary Katherine Dickey, followed.
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“WE’RE
OUTTA HERE!” Jubilant DHS Class of 2007 graduates celebrate
the receipt of their diplomas at the conclusion of Saturday
afternoon’s Commencement ceremonies with the traditional tossing
of their mortarboard caps high into the air. |
The class song, “In This Diary” was then
played before the presentation and confirmation of the graduates, each
of whom made a walk across the elevated podium to receive his or her
diploma.
Flor Marian Reyna and Kaitlin Wells then led the class in the “turning
of the tassels”, moving the gold tassel from the left side of the
mortar board cap to the right side, in recognition that they were now
graduates.
Monica Gonzales offered the benediction
prior to the graduates being presented roses and receding in pairs
after receiving hugs from Principal Lewis and Counselor Kaye Quinn as
the song “Take It Easy” was played on the sound system.
The new graduates then gathered to the
side of the stage area and, in their final act as a class,
simultaneously and joyfully tossed their graduation caps into the air.
It was then time for the crowd to surge
forward and offer their hugs and congratulations as many cameras were
flashing.
Scholarships and Honors
The following scholarships and honors
were either recounted or presented at the graduation. A total of
$47,775 in cash awards were received by the class. Two non-denominated
scholarships were not included in that total, which are estimated at
more than $10,000 in value.
Honor graduates were: Marisa Vargas,
Monica Gonzales, Lyndi Levisay, Isacc Garcia, Flor Maria Reyna,
Jessica Moreno, Cameron Canterbury, Brittney Auvenshine, Josh Carruth,
Delia Moreno and Justin Gonzales.
Mary Katherine Dickey - the Academic
Awards Scholarship of $1,000, the First United Methodist Church
Educational Grant of $400, the Highest Ranking Graduate recognition
and tuition paid for one year at the University of Texas in Austin.
Kelsey Leigh Menzel - the Faculty Award
for Achievement, Citibank Scholarship of $1,000, DeLeon Lions Club
Salutatorian Award of $600, and the Carruth Family Memorial
Scholarship of $500.
Marisa Vargas Lanten - the Faculty Award
for Scholarship, the Hocheim Prairie Farm Mutual Insurance Association
and Cook Insurance Scholarship of $750 and the Association of
Compensatory Educators of Texas Scholarship of $1,000.
Monica Elizabeth Gonzales - the Faculty
Award for Citizenship, the Ray Hooker Memorial Scholarship of $500,
the Outreach Health Services Scholarship of $500, the Armstrong Lodge
Scholarship of $1,000, the James Perkins Memorial Scholarship of
$1,250, the Order of the Eastern Star Scholarship of $500, the
Citibank Scholarship of $1,000 and a four year scholarship to Texas
A&M University in the amount of $20,000.
Isacc Jordan Garcia - the DeLeon Chamber
of Commerce Scholarship of $500 and the Farmers & Merchants Bank
Scholarship of $525.
Joshua Cameron Canterbury - the DeLeon
Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship of $500.
Brittney Jay Auvenshine - the Audie and
Zera Floyd Foundation Scholarship of $8,000 for 4 years.
Delia Leija Moreno - the DeLeon
Ex-Students Association Scholarship of $3,400 and the Freda Mayes
Stacy Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.
Justin Angel Gonzales - the Association
of Texas Professional Educators Scholarship of $250, the First
National Bank of Abilene Scholarship of $100 and the DeLeon
Ministerial Alliance Scholarship of $500.
Lawrence Curtis Cisneroz - the Jim and Altha Wilkerson Scholarship of
$500.
Jeremy Dewayne Lindley - the Dewayne
Lindley Memorial Scholarship (non-denominated).
Gary Ray McLearen - the First National
Bank Scholarship of $500 and the Panhandle Plains Scholarship of $100.
Monty Jay Stewart - the Faculty Award for
Leadership and the Brett Sharp Memorial Scholarship of $500.
Micah Joel Neslony - the First United
Methodist Church Educational Grant of $400 and the Imagine America
Scholarship of $1,000. |
