Page 206 - 1982

RALSTON * VISITOR
FOULS PLAYER FOULS

" A Senior's Thoughts at Commencement."
One of the honors of being valedictorian is deli­
vering a speech. Kevin Coppersmith gives his
comments to the seniors during graduation.

*

Butterflies
crept into my
stomach as I no­
ticed that my watch
read ten minutes 'til
two o'clock. May 23, the
day all seniors looked
forward to for years, would
be over in less than two hours.
The graduation ceremony was
underway with the school band
playing ''Pomp and Circumstance."
In the processional, I met my part­
ner, we walked up the aisle, and then
took our seats, as did all the other
seniors. We all stood and sang the na­
tional anthem, followed by an invocation
from pastor Charles L. Landers of the Ralston
Baptist Church. Salutatorian Kris Stenberg
welcomed the guests. As the school choir sang
"Time for Movin' On," I could feel my eyes water,
but once valedictorian Kevin Coppersmith began his
f ’■ speech, he had everyone laughing. With the help of his ||||
classmates, Coppersmith was able to add a harmless senior
prank to the ceremony: on the cue word "because" the guys s m |
stood and shouted "Sometimes you feel like a nut," and before
I knew it I was standing with the girls shouting "Sometimes
you don't!" (Principal Lon Bernth complimented us on how well-
organized we were for not having practiced.) Scholarships were
presented by superintendent Gerald Kleinsmith. Diplomas were award­
ed to the 274 graduates by school board member Robert O'Reilly. The
ceremony ended with the choir singing "Beautiful Savior" and "The Lord
Bless and Keep you." The recessional followed. After checking in our
gowns, many good-byes, hugs, tears, words of "good luck" and "please keep
in touch" were exchanged. Then we were off to senior parties and to reminisce
about the "LASTING IMPRESSIONS" of high school that would be with us always.

202 Graduation