Mount Si graduates make their way into the world
Published 10:20 am Thursday, October 2, 2008
Mount Si High School said goodbye to 256 graduating seniors at last Thursday’s 62nd commencement ceremony held in the Snoqualmie high school’s gymnasium.
Led by principal Randy Taylor, who started last fall, the night was one filled with proud family members and enthusiastic students eager to enter into the next step of their lives.
“Graduating from high school is a big achievement,” Taylor said to the class of 2006, congratulating them on their success.
“I’m pretty damn proud,” said Chuck Lottermoser, who was in attendance with his wife to see their daughter, Lela, graduate. Lela will begin training next week in South Carolina as an Army paramedic. “I just want her to be happy.”
Senior Travis Dalke’s grandmother, Leona McCauley, flew to Washington from Palm Beach, Fla., just to see her grandson graduate.
“I’m excited,” she said, noting that Dalke – who earned a pilot’s license – promised to take her flying during her visit.
Dalke was offered more than $120,000 in scholarships and will attend the University of North Dakota for commercial aviation.
Graduating senior girls were dressed in scarlet caps and gowns; graduating senior boys were dressed in gray.
Twenty-nine seniors also wore gold stoles around their necks to indicate they were graduating with the highest honors, having earned a 3.8 grade point average.
Thirty-nine wore gold cords to indicate they were graduating with at least a 3.5 grade point average (high honors) and 40 wore silver cords to mark their honors status (graduating with at least a 3.2 grade point average).
Ten staff members, who were selected by students, also dressed in caps and gowns and sat with the senior class during the ceremony.
The teachers were selected based on who the students felt had made the most difference in their lives and included Chris Jackson, Charlie Kinnune, Kit McCormick, Kim Sales, Lynn Alm, Gerald Bopp, Garrick Phillips, Ken Hagler, Wayne Lewis and Val Meyers.
The first student to speak was student-selected senior Andre Bourlin, who reminded the class that they could take with them more than just a solid education.
“What [high school] does is help you to learn more about the world around you,” he said. “It helps you grow.”
Faculty-selected senior speaker Leah Pfeifle said, “We’re like metaphorical cows herded by metaphorical farmers. After today, we become free range.”
She also encouraged the class to make the most of the future that awaits them.
“It’s not the end of something, really,” she said. “It’s the start of something – your life.”
Biyeun Buczyk was the faculty- and student-selected senior speaker. In her speech, she appealed to her class to develop their social activism, urging them to do something, big or small, to help others.
“It’s easy to forget how privileged we are,” she said.
Taylor introduced this year’s valedictorians, Alison Bilow, Buczyk, Kristine Lund and Alina Plavsky, and salutatorian Kristin Kowalski, who was offered $31,000 in scholarships and will attend Western Washington Bilow was offered more than $17,000 in scholarships and will attend the University of Washington honors program in the fall.
Buczyk was offered more than $152,000 in scholarships and will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study computer science, physics and multiple forms of engineering.
With scholarship offerings of more than $145,000, Lund will attend Notre Dame de Namur University in California to play soccer and would like to major in kinesiology and athletic training.
Plavsky was offered more than $172,000 in scholarships and will attend Dartmouth College to major in molecular biology.
Taylor also acknowledged some of the many other accomplishments made by members of the class.
Seventeen students were given the Washington State Principal’s Scholar Program Award for being in the top 5 percent of their class.
Forty-three students were in the top 10 percent of their class, earning the Washington State Honors Award.
Two students were graduating after having already earned their associate’s degrees, as well, through Bellevue Community College’s Running Start program.
Taylor also noted that the class of 2006 earned more than $3 million in scholarships and competed at the state level in multiple athletic and musical competitions.
He left the students with these parting words: “Your life isn’t the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away.”
With several performances by seniors, he evening was not shy of musical talents.
Allyson Rosman (accompanied by Cameron Rogers on piano) sang “There You’ll Be.”
Elise Vikari (accompanied by Kerry Crowley on piano) sang “You Raise Me Up” and Sonja Opsvig (accompanied by Kerry Crowley on piano, Malena McCrone on bass guitar and Nick Barry on acoustic guitar) sang “Better Days.” Mount Si’s wind ensemble also performed.
Snoqualmie Valley School District No. 410 Superintendent Joel Aune spoke to the graduating class, as well.
Like Taylor, this was Aune’s first year with the school district. In his speech, he noted the pleasure he’s had getting to know the students and was happy to be able to speak at their graduation ceremony.
“I wish you the very best of luck as you take the next step in your lives,” he told the members of the 2006 class. “Good luck and congratulations on what is truly a notable accomplishment.”
School board members Marci Busby, Rudy Edwards, Kim Horn, Rick Krona and Kristy Sullivan presented students with diplomas.
Senior Tiffany Moes, who was in a car accident that left her impaired, received a standing ovation as she was given her diploma.
The graduating class of 2006 celebrated the event with balloons, silly string and much cheering.
“It felt surreal,” said graduating student Ben Garding about the experience. “I have no idea what I’m going to do next.”
