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47 Warsaw graduates make history
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| Hugs and congratulations were the order of the day after graduation ceremonies at Warsaw High School. The 47 graduates lined up in the sunshine outside to greet well-wishers. |
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
WARSAW, Ill. - Sunday was a picture-perfect day to graduate from high school in Warsaw, Ill.
Families, friends, teachers and administrators converged at the school gym for the “Wildcats Last Roar.” Next year, Warsaw High School will include students from the Nauvoo-Colusa School District and all sports will be co-oped as the West Hancock Titans with Warsaw, Nauvoo-Colusa and Hamilton High School.
The 47 graduating seniors recognized their place in history but also looked ahead to the future.
“Today opens a new chapter for us,” Jenna Dennis told her classmates. Dennis is vice-president of the Class of 2008. “Let us remember those not able to be here.
“Thanks to each teacher in this room who helped us discover our gifts and how to use those gifts. Thanks to parents, guardians and all those who support and encourage us.
“Strive to not misuse your gifts. Respect each individual as you go out into the world. Brighten your corner of the world.”
Principal Tom Bertucci said the senior class has many accomplishments to celebrate.
“This class took my six-week talk to heart,” he said. “They kept going strong to the end. I told them it's never too late to succeed.
“Today, we have three more graduates than we counted a few weeks ago. We have one more graduate than counted three days ago. Thanks to all those who helped them get work finished.
“This group is either a bunch of students who didn't quit or the biggest procrastinators . . . I don't quite know which.”
He asked all the seniors who participated in sports over the four years of high school to stand and be recognized. Bertucci honored them for working after school and through the summers, while keeping grades up and some also working jobs.
“This class went three rounds in playoffs before being defeated in football, has a 70-40 softball record, has won six conference titles, four regional titles, the girls basketball team won a supersectional and this year, the champion state title,” said Bertucci. “This class also will be known for inventing the ‘roller coaster' (cheer).
Four seniors were recognized for joining the military.
n Henry Branham has joined the Army National Guard as a member of the 1844th Transportation Company, Quincy, Ill. He will attend basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
n Corey Haase also joined the Army National Guard. He will be a member of the 123 Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B, Macomb, Ill. He also will train at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
n Daniel Treadwell has enlisted in the Army and will join the 3/18 Engineers in Iowa. Treadwell will attend basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and advanced training in Virginia on computer systems.
n Trenton Woolson will serve in the Army National Guard as an infantry soldier with the 178th Infantry, Illinois.
“These men have chosen to defend their country,” said Bertucci. “One of them has told me his goal is to be an Army Ranger. I would be extremely proud to say I know an Army Ranger.
“We will be thinking of you. The community and I salute you.”
The audience and graduates gave the four seniors a standing ovation.
Other accomplishments in the Class of 2008 include 30 students who earned a total of 540 hours of dual credits.
“That's about 75 percent of the class that took college level classes,” said Bertucci.
n Eleven students earned between three and 12 hours of dual credits.
n 16 students earned between 15 and 27 hours of dual credits.
n Three students graduate from Warsaw as college sophomores, having earned between 30 and 42 hours of dual credits.
Nine students were recognized as honor students and Academic Society members. Eight students, Alex Culpepper, Travis Demint, Jenna Dennis, Alyssa Gerhardt, Rachel Gerhardt, Eric Rupp, Breann Starr and Cassie Weigand, were noted in the graduation program as honor students and wore medals at graduation for having achieved a 3.5 grade point average and higher.
“We have one more student who has achieved this distinction,” said Bertucci. “He doesn't even know it. We crunched the numbers and figured his GPA. Mike Hoener also is recognized as an honor student.”
Alyssa Gerhardt is the 2008 valedictorian and Culpepper is the salutatorian.
“We're an important part of school history,” said Culpepper to his class. “Words cannot express enough our appreciation and love for the support from our family, staff and community.
“As freshmen, we saw the start of the new football Titans co-op. Our freshmen team went 10-0. As sophomores, we were conference champs and we've made the football playoffs each year since. This year, our girls basketball team, in the first year of a new co-op, won the state championship.
“We've adapted well to change. Many students went from one extra-curricular to the next, keeping up grades and several taking dual credit classes. It shows our class had perseverance.”
Gerhardt said she watched the number countdown signs being removed each day from the senior hall, showing how many days until graduation.
“I've watched our time at Warsaw draw to an end,” she said. “How unreal it seems we are here. We're teetering on the last of our high school careers.
“We leave here with life lessons from family, teachers and our friends.
“We've accepted changes. We learned to cheer for the Titans, not just for Warsaw. First we cheered, then we became friends with former rivals.
“It's a sad privilege for the Class of 2008 to be the last Wildcats. Look back, not with sadness, but with pride at all of our accomplishments.”
Board President Don Roskamp and vice-president Steve Lucie handed out the diplomas as Kylie Ikerd, secretary of the class, read the names.
“I gladly accept this class to graduate,” said Roskamp. “It's an honor to present your diplomas. I look at you and can almost go face to face and recall your accomplishments from sports to fine arts and academics.
“You have shed pride on your families, school and community. I have seen the hard work the graduates have done and I sincerely thank you.”
Class President Ryanne Nason led her peers in turning their hat tassels.
“The end is near; how final that sounds,” she said. “This opens new chapters. Now we face the task that faces all graduates. Got out there.”
Prior to the ceremonies, the seniors gathered in the cafeteria to line up and get last minute instructions from Bertucci.
Rachel Gerhardt said she was excited.
“I'm experiencing a bundle of emotions,” said Weigand, as junior class members passed out red roses to seniors to hand in appreciation to family members and supporters during graduation.
“It's been rough but it's done,” said Treadwell.
Classmate DeEtta Starr had similar thoughts. “It was a long road but we made it,” she said.
“Party on,” said Richard Thompson.
Families, friends, teachers and administrators converged at the school gym for the “Wildcats Last Roar.” Next year, Warsaw High School will include students from the Nauvoo-Colusa School District and all sports will be co-oped as the West Hancock Titans with Warsaw, Nauvoo-Colusa and Hamilton High School.
The 47 graduating seniors recognized their place in history but also looked ahead to the future.
“Today opens a new chapter for us,” Jenna Dennis told her classmates. Dennis is vice-president of the Class of 2008. “Let us remember those not able to be here.
“Thanks to each teacher in this room who helped us discover our gifts and how to use those gifts. Thanks to parents, guardians and all those who support and encourage us.
“Strive to not misuse your gifts. Respect each individual as you go out into the world. Brighten your corner of the world.”
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“This class took my six-week talk to heart,” he said. “They kept going strong to the end. I told them it's never too late to succeed.
“Today, we have three more graduates than we counted a few weeks ago. We have one more graduate than counted three days ago. Thanks to all those who helped them get work finished.
“This group is either a bunch of students who didn't quit or the biggest procrastinators . . . I don't quite know which.”
He asked all the seniors who participated in sports over the four years of high school to stand and be recognized. Bertucci honored them for working after school and through the summers, while keeping grades up and some also working jobs.
“This class went three rounds in playoffs before being defeated in football, has a 70-40 softball record, has won six conference titles, four regional titles, the girls basketball team won a supersectional and this year, the champion state title,” said Bertucci. “This class also will be known for inventing the ‘roller coaster' (cheer).
Four seniors were recognized for joining the military.
n Henry Branham has joined the Army National Guard as a member of the 1844th Transportation Company, Quincy, Ill. He will attend basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
n Corey Haase also joined the Army National Guard. He will be a member of the 123 Field Artillery Battalion, Battery B, Macomb, Ill. He also will train at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
n Daniel Treadwell has enlisted in the Army and will join the 3/18 Engineers in Iowa. Treadwell will attend basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and advanced training in Virginia on computer systems.
n Trenton Woolson will serve in the Army National Guard as an infantry soldier with the 178th Infantry, Illinois.
“These men have chosen to defend their country,” said Bertucci. “One of them has told me his goal is to be an Army Ranger. I would be extremely proud to say I know an Army Ranger.
“We will be thinking of you. The community and I salute you.”
The audience and graduates gave the four seniors a standing ovation.
Other accomplishments in the Class of 2008 include 30 students who earned a total of 540 hours of dual credits.
“That's about 75 percent of the class that took college level classes,” said Bertucci.
n Eleven students earned between three and 12 hours of dual credits.
n 16 students earned between 15 and 27 hours of dual credits.
n Three students graduate from Warsaw as college sophomores, having earned between 30 and 42 hours of dual credits.
Nine students were recognized as honor students and Academic Society members. Eight students, Alex Culpepper, Travis Demint, Jenna Dennis, Alyssa Gerhardt, Rachel Gerhardt, Eric Rupp, Breann Starr and Cassie Weigand, were noted in the graduation program as honor students and wore medals at graduation for having achieved a 3.5 grade point average and higher.
“We have one more student who has achieved this distinction,” said Bertucci. “He doesn't even know it. We crunched the numbers and figured his GPA. Mike Hoener also is recognized as an honor student.”
Alyssa Gerhardt is the 2008 valedictorian and Culpepper is the salutatorian.
“We're an important part of school history,” said Culpepper to his class. “Words cannot express enough our appreciation and love for the support from our family, staff and community.
“As freshmen, we saw the start of the new football Titans co-op. Our freshmen team went 10-0. As sophomores, we were conference champs and we've made the football playoffs each year since. This year, our girls basketball team, in the first year of a new co-op, won the state championship.
“We've adapted well to change. Many students went from one extra-curricular to the next, keeping up grades and several taking dual credit classes. It shows our class had perseverance.”
Gerhardt said she watched the number countdown signs being removed each day from the senior hall, showing how many days until graduation.
“I've watched our time at Warsaw draw to an end,” she said. “How unreal it seems we are here. We're teetering on the last of our high school careers.
“We leave here with life lessons from family, teachers and our friends.
“We've accepted changes. We learned to cheer for the Titans, not just for Warsaw. First we cheered, then we became friends with former rivals.
“It's a sad privilege for the Class of 2008 to be the last Wildcats. Look back, not with sadness, but with pride at all of our accomplishments.”
Board President Don Roskamp and vice-president Steve Lucie handed out the diplomas as Kylie Ikerd, secretary of the class, read the names.
“I gladly accept this class to graduate,” said Roskamp. “It's an honor to present your diplomas. I look at you and can almost go face to face and recall your accomplishments from sports to fine arts and academics.
“You have shed pride on your families, school and community. I have seen the hard work the graduates have done and I sincerely thank you.”
Class President Ryanne Nason led her peers in turning their hat tassels.
“The end is near; how final that sounds,” she said. “This opens new chapters. Now we face the task that faces all graduates. Got out there.”
Prior to the ceremonies, the seniors gathered in the cafeteria to line up and get last minute instructions from Bertucci.
Rachel Gerhardt said she was excited.
“I'm experiencing a bundle of emotions,” said Weigand, as junior class members passed out red roses to seniors to hand in appreciation to family members and supporters during graduation.
“It's been rough but it's done,” said Treadwell.
Classmate DeEtta Starr had similar thoughts. “It was a long road but we made it,” she said.
“Party on,” said Richard Thompson.
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Debbie wrote on Jun 2, 2008 11:45 AM: