Malta Bend School marks departure of class of 2009

And judging from the population of Malta Bend (249) and the size of the audience for the graduation program, practically everyone in town was there to wish them well.

Among the 14 graduates were six members of National Honor Society, representing almost 50 percent of the class.

The senior class-designed program began with the traditional march of graduates to "Pomp and Circumstance" followed by "The Climb," and a short special presentation by Principal Roger Feagan.

Salutatorian Ryan Armstrong, son of Susan Jansen, told students high school is "only a fraction of our lives ... a difficult first step."

"We've worked hard to graduate," he said. "We've become unique individuals."

Valedictorian Emily Lippmann, daughter of Art and Dawn Madden, said she was glad to have spent her high school years in a smaller school.

"I had a choice of where I would go," she said, "and I choose Malta Bend because I knew I didn't have to struggle to fit in. I could just be myself."

Roger Slusher, who retired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year after teaching social studies for many years at Malta Bend, was selected by the class to be the featured speaker for their graduation.

Slusher told students they should prepare to live in a "challenging world."

Referring to today's difficult economic situation, Slusher said, "We'll have to adjust to simpler lives" in its wake.

"The time has come," he said, "for you to use the things you learned that you wondered if you'd ever use."

"Your diploma represents that you learned facts and how to solve problems." "But," he warned, "you have only scratched the surface."

Slusher ended his remarks with a Vulcan salute, and urged students to "live long and prosper."

Following Slusher's address, Class President Dakota Kiser introduced three teachers singled out by the graduates for special honor.

The teachers were Gloria Fetter, who taught Title I Reading and who is retiring this year, Helen Boedecker, who taught fourth and fifth grade, and first-year teacher Natalie Reische, who taught social studies.

Students then spread out through the audience and presented flowers to people in the audience who were special to them: parents, grandparents, teachers and friends who helped them in their school years.

Superintendent Melissa Vesser and School Board President Art Madden then presented the class to the audience and gave them their diplomas.

After a slide show featuring all 14 members of the class, with photographs dating from their earliest years, and a candle-lighting service, Superintendent Vesser introduced the graduates to the audience as the graduates flung their caps into the air.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Gallery of graduation pictures at www.marshallnews.com/gallery/4028