Valedictorian Mackenzie Thorp reflected on memories that will always stay with him from growing up with his classmates. He also asked the audience to take a moment of silence for Santa Fe Alumnus Jacob Forbes, who was killed in a vehicle accident near Carrollton Saturday, May 17. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

The ceremony opened with graduates marching in to the traditional processional music and then family and friends were treated to the song, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. Elizabeth Hinz played guitar and sang, Katie Christopherson sang and David Niederjohn played the piano, showcasing their talents for attendees of the program.

Douglas Wright, superintendent of schools, said, "If I did my calculations right, this is the 40th graduating class from Santa Fe." He introduced Salutatorian Hinz and Valedictorian Mackenzie Thorp.

Salutatorian Hinz started her speech by saying, "Wow! We are here." She thanked the parents for helping the class get where they are now and she thanked the teachers for teaching them what they need to know for the future.

She related the topic of her speech to the song, "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot. She said the class had been standing on "this floor" many times for various different reasons.

"It's time to make our own decisions," she said. "This is a big day for our parents and family. And it's a big day for us."

She concluded her speech by saying, "Move. Make something happen. I dare you."

Valedictorian Thorp reflected on a few of his "most treasured and exciting times."

They involved the "old" Apple Jubilee where a friend did a back flip and scraped his face, an overnight birthday party where classmate Garrick Baldwin injured his lip, and the "poop" fight that took place among most of the class.

"Yes, you heard me right. I said 'poop' fight. It was of the horse variety," he said. He continued that he still has no idea how and why the class decided to take part in such an activity, but it happened.

"It didn't matter if it was hard, soft, cold or warm," he said, it all worked as ammunition.

He left his class with one of his favorite quotes by Edward Koch, "The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse."

Prior to moving on in the program, Thorp asked his classmates and the audience to take a moment of silence to a Santa Fe alumnus who was killed in a vehicle accident on Saturday, May 17.

"I can remember playing basketball with him," Thorp said. They honored Jacob Forbes, 20, for a few moments "to respect him and his family."

Graduating seniors who are members of the Santa Fe National Honor Society are Ramon Gordillo, Nick Lageman, Thorp, Niederjohn, Hinz, Nicole Collette and Ashley Hulett.

According to Tina Burton, high school counselor, the Santa Fe Class of 2008 generated about $98,000 in scholarships and $85,000 through the A+ program.

"There are 20 students attending a technical school, two-year or four-year college," Tina Burton said. Three graduates have enlisted in the military.

Graduating seniors who are A+ certified are Brandon Schmidt, Lageman, Logan Wesley, Thorp, Ryan Emde, Niederjohn, Zach Wilkinson, Nathaniel Moenkhoff, Aron Melvin, Rusty Limback, Dara Mattern, Hinz, Collette, Hulett, Elizabeth Leeman, Chrissy Madison and Christopherson.

Salutatorian Elizabeth Hinz relayed her message to fellow classmates through a song's lyrics, "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot, at the graduation ceremony Sunday, May 18. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Scholarships awarded are as follows:

Katie Elizabeth Christopherson -- Waverly Jaycees Scholarship;

Nicole Jana Collette -- College Preparatory Studies Certificate, United States Marine Corps "Semper Fidelis" Band Award, University of Central Missouri Girls State Scholarship and University of Central Missouri Red & Black Scholarship;

Ryan Aaron Emde -- Curtis Buhlig Memorial Scholarship, Houston E. Mull Memorial Scholarship and Vernon & Frances Lueck Scholarship;

Elizabeth Ginelle Hinz -- Alma Community Club Scholarship, Charles Lyons Memorial Foundation Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, Donnis & Greg Prather Scholarship, George Washington Carver Award, J. Arthur Bour and Izetta G. Bour Memorial Scholarship, President's Education Award, Sweet Springs Optimist Club Scholarship, University of Missouri Academic Competitive Grant, University of Missouri Undergraduate Grant and Waverly Jaycees Scholarship;

Ashley Ann Hulett -- Beumer Memorial Scholarship, Bricken-Groves Memorial Scholarship, Charles Lyons Memorial Foundation Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, J. Arthur Bour and Izetta G. Bour Memorial Scholarship, President's Education Award and University of Central Missouri Red & Black Scholarship;

Nicholas Allen Lageman -- Bricken-Groves Memorial Scholarship and President's Education Award;

Nathaniel Scott Moenkhoff -- Alma Four-Square Community Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, President's Education Award, Sweet Springs Optimist Club Scholarship and University of Central Missouri Red & Black Scholarship;

David Lee Niederjohn -- Charles Lyons Memorial Foundation Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, Donna Zitelman Memorial Scholarship, Houston E. Mull Memorial Scholarship, J. Arthur Bour and Izetta F. Bour Memorial Scholarship, Leo "Sonny" Hadaller Scholarship, President's Education Award, Sam Walton Community Scholarship, Santa Fe Agri-Leaders Scholarship, Sweet Springs Optimist Club Scholarship, University of Central Missouri Boys State Scholarship and University of Central Missouri Red & Black Scholarship;

Richard Brandon Schmidt -- College Preparatory Studies Certificate, Houston E. Mull Memorial Scholarship, J. Arthur Bour and Izetta G. Bour Memorial Scholarship and River Valley MFA Incorporated Scholarship;

MacKenzie Brent Thorp -- United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award, Charles Lyons Memorial Foundation Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, George Washington Carver Award, Joe Mann Leadership Award, KMZU Academic Achievement Award, Ledru "Ted" Kirchhoff Memorial Scholarship, President's Education Award, Santa Fe High School Coca-Cola Scholarship, Sweet Springs Optimist Club Scholarship, Waverly-Grand Pass High School Alumni Scholarship, Waverly Jaycees Scholarship, United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award and University of Central Missouri Red & Black Scholarship;

Candace Lynn Twiggs -- L.B. Manning Memorial Scholarship, Michael Campbell Memorial Scholarship and State Fair Community College Roadrunner Spirit Squad Scholarship;

Logan Grant Wesley -- Alma Community Club Scholarship, Charles Lyons Memorial Foundation Scholarship, College Preparatory Studies Certificate, G. E. Star Award, Lafayette County Youth Court Scholarship, Missouri University of Science & Technology Scholarship, President's Education Award, Sweet Springs Optimist Club Scholarship and West Central Missouri Electric Cooperative Scholarship; and

Zachary Edward Wilkinson -- Houston E. Mull Memorial Scholarship and Santa Fe Agri-Leaders Scholarship.

The graduating class of 2008's flower is a white rose, their colors are red and white and their quote, from Theodore Roosevelt, is "A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad."

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net