Graduation 2009: Sweet Springs High School graduates honored

Stephanie Krause, who received 15 scholarships during the Sweet Springs High School graduation ceremony Friday, May 8, walks from the stage with a smile after receiving her scholarships and awards, which included a 2009 United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award, presented by SFC Perkins of the United States Army.
(Geoff Rands/Democrat-News)

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Superintendent Boyd Jones welcomed attendees to the ceremony, telling them the purpose of the event was to celebrate a new beginning more than mourning an end.

After Jones' welcome, class Salutatorian Stephanie Krause addressed the crowd and her classmates, reminiscing about her time in school and the fun she had with her classmates through the years.

Two Sweet Springs High School graduates embrace each other after receiving their diplomas at the graduation ceremony Friday evening, May 8.
(Geoff Rands/Democrat-News)

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High School Principal Mike Smith read the names of 16 students who received varying numbers of scholarships, awards, certificates and prizes. The student who received the most was Krause, who received 15 scholarships and three awards.

In total, said Smith, the graduating class qualified for nearly $250,000 in scholarships.

Following the presentation of diplomas, graduates were each given a bouquet of yellow roses, which they gave tearfully to their teachers, parents, siblings and friends while "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Atkins and "The Time of My Life" by David Cook played.

Class Valedictorian Bethany Rippey then spoke to those assembled.

"We sit here tonight feeling accomplished. We have completed a significant phase of life. This phase of life was completed together. We have learned, lived and grown together as a class," Rippey said. "We look at graduation as an ending because we won't be as close farther down the road as we are today, but I would rather look at it as a beginning to our future. ... Our options of what we do are endless, and our future is boundless. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' I know my classmates are capable of anything with their big hearts and even bigger dreams."

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net

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