Summer vacation had yet to begin, but it felt like it had as diplomas were bestowed upon 326 graduates during Rolla High School’s Commencement on Friday in a steamy Missouri S&T Gale Bullman Multi-purpose building.

It was a night steeped in academic achievement as Superintendent Dr. Jerry Giger introduced the 22 valedictorians and sole salutatorian during the ceremony, reading the name of each, their parents and career aspirations to the colleges and universities of intent.

Two students were selected to address graduates — Valedictorian Rebecca Lynn Fryer and Robert Paden Long, class president. Rachael Arthur was recognized as Salutatorian.

“Today is not the end,” Fryer told her classmates. “It’s the beginning of Part 2 of the story we call life.... We’ve been through some difficult family situations ... a tough time with GPAs, but through it all we came through in the end.

“We’re told tomorrow is the future, and it’s in our hands... The future belongs to us,” she said.

Long, the son of school board member Kelly Long, offered insight on growing up in Rolla — from day care to grade school and through high school and of what’s expected beyond.

Long offered a pragmatic, statistical look at the populous and reflected how some classmates would be millionaires, athletes, scientists, and yes, he said, “some will end up in jail.”

“Life is full of its ups and downs,” Long said. “Isn’t it great to be able to decide which side of those statistics to be on?” he said, urging his classmates to be the best they can.

“It’s been great living in a small town. If you don’t know what you’re doing ... (certainly) someone else does,” Long said to smatterings of laughter.

Long concluded by urging graduates to congratulate themselves on their accomplishments.

Rolla High Principal Nathan Hoven addressed the class, saying they would always be special to him as the Class of 2009 is his first as principal. Hoven also thanked the military for its dedication to the county, specifically mentioning the recent murder of 2008 RHS graduate Specialist Jacob Barton who died in Iraq and then asked for a moment of silence for 2009 classmates Nathan Cremer and Zackery R. Skaggs, who were killed early in the school year in an automobile accident.

Addressing the class, School Board President Molly Malone challenged graduates to excel in life and do their best before she handed diplomas to the students.

Twenty-two students were recognized as valedictorians.
Those students include:

Isabel C. Abbott; Fatimah Z. Ahmed, Renee L. Brunton, Emily M. Burris, Natalie A. Frank; William Liu; Andrew S. Miller; Stephen V. Moorkamp; Alyssa M. Packard; Leah M. Parry; Nilam D. Patel; Ashley J. Payne; Samantha E. Pernicka; Destinee A. Rea; Jacob A. Sells; Grace C. Sherrill; Whitney R. Snyders; Dani K. Steele; Robert B. Stickler; AnniLauri Villeme; Ryan P. Wilkerson and Emitt C. Witt, IV.