Harper Graduates Largest Class Ever

Jun 11, 2008 - 15:04:49 CDT.

WITH DIPLOMA IN HAND, Colin Lee (left) of Harper High School receives congratulations from fellow graduate Sammy Winters during Friday night’s commencement ceremony. Harper honored 52 seniors at this year’s commencement, the largest graduating class in Harper history. Standard Radio-Post Photo by Jeffrey Benzing

Members of the largest class in Harper High School history, 52 seniors in all, received diplomas during commencement exercises in the school gymnasium Friday.

During the initial dedication of the ceremony, the district honored the memories of Stacey Skains, mother of Katie Skains, and Matthew Pascarella, father of Melanie Pascerella, parents of HHS graduating seniors who are deceased.

After a processional recording by the Harper High School band was played, Hannah Leinweber, Deborah Parker and Jeff Butterworth led the auditorium in singing the Star-Spangled Banner.

The Pledge of Allegiance to both United States and Texas flags was led by Andrew Chevalier.

The audience was officially welcomed to the commencement ceremony by Amber Bowlin. Brittany Brand then delivered a special reading to parents.

Valedictorian Claire Jones and salutatorian Oren Draznin both delivered speeches Friday night.

Introducing commencement speaker Ken Davis, a former science teacher in Harper, was Megan Shepherd.

Harper Principal Chris Stevenson presented awards and scholarships that had not previously been awarded to members of the graduating class.

Joshua Ramsey then introduced members of the HHS administration and Harper school board, followed by a response to faculty by senior Ruthann Mounce.

Pari Whitten, superintendent of schools in Harper, presented graduates with their diplomas.

Colin Lee concluded the evening with a benediction.

Ushers at the commencement ceremony were Alyssa Randle, Ashley Kershner, Chris Martinez and Codie White.

During his keynote address to seniors, Davis offered simple advice, because he said he considers himself a simple man.

He joked with his former students about asking him back to their graduation.

“I question their desire for me to speak for them,” he said, “especially after having to sit through a number of my chemistry and physics classes at eight in the morning…not that any of them slept.”

Davis said he uses Harper students often as examples when he wants to inspire his junior high students to achieve excellence.

“Not a week goes by that I don’t say to my students, ‘Look at Harper’s athletic program’, or ‘look at Harper’s band program.’”

Davis joked that he may have carried his affection for Harper a bit too far when he was at a planning meeting recently in his new school district.

He was praising Harper’s students, and counselor, and parents and then said that Principal Stevenson was the best principal he’d ever worked for.

He then realized that his new principal, who is also superintendent of the district, was sitting across from him, and he wasn’t amused.

Davis said that the class of 2008 has set the bar high for future classes, with their success both in the classroom and in the community.

As part of his simple advice, Davis told the graduates to always pursue the “three be's.”

Be humble, he said, be a good example and be loving and kind to those around you.

As a science teacher, Davis used the example of Sir Isaac Newton when telling students to be humble.

Though Newton was a preeminent scientist who discovered the law of gravity, Davis said Newton stayed humble.

He quoted Newton, “If I have seen farther than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Davis told Harper graduates to always remember the shoulders they have stood on.

When telling students to always set a good example, Davis remembered the example his father set for him.

Davis said he grew up in a family without much money. His father worked two to three jobs constantly to make ends meet.

One job, he said, was delivering heating oil. Davis remembers visiting a widow every two weeks. His father would drop of her oil and she would thank him.

Davis said he wondered why his father never gave her a bill. His dad told him that she had already paid.

Davis later asked his mother about this, and she told him that his father had paid for the oil because the widow couldn’t afford it.

Though it is sometimes difficult to do so, Davis said it is always worthwhile to be kind and loving because people will treat you the way you treat them.

In closing, Davis wished the graduates success professionally and personally and offered a final word of advice.

“Remember it’s not what you gather in life but what you scatter that tells the type of life you have lived,” he said.

And despite his background as a graduate of Texas A&M University, Davis ended his speech by saying “Hook ‘em Horns,” something he said he has never done before.

During her valedictory address, Ms. Jones said she felt honored to stand before her friends and classmates.

“Four years ago, I challenged this class to take on high school with a positive and motivating spirit,” she said. “We have passed every bar with flying colors.”

In her speech, Ms. Jones said that life is like a great book, and in order to reach excellence, each graduate must be willing to go through several rough drafts and make mistakes.

Right now, Ms. Jones said, she and her peers are still in the opening chapters of the book of life.

“By definition, a valediction means a speech made as a farewell,” she said. “However, I find it difficult to write a speech concerning closure and ending when in all actuality, we are just beginning our lives.”

In conclusion, Ms. Jones challenged her class to be fearless, to never settle for second and to always be candid.

Though graduation is the end of an exciting chapter, she said, life is just beginning.

During his salutatory address, Oren Draznin, talked about the supportive relationships he’s been able to forge at school and in the community.

“I could talk all day about the many different mentoring experiences I’ve had at Harper, but sadly, I have a time limit.”

Draznin thanked the community and school faculty for being supportive of his class and helping them achieve great things academically and personally.

“We have teachers who care about our learning experiences, administrators who are constantly looking out for our best interests and a community that supports us 100 percent.”

Twenty eight students were recognized Friday as honor graduates, meaning they maintained a 90 percent overall average through high school.

Those students, who wore medals and gold chords, were: Claire Jones, Oren Draznin, Hannah Leinweber, Andrew Chevalier, Amber Bowlin, Brittany Brand, Megan Shepherd, Colin Lee, Joshua Ramsey, Ruthann Mounce, Nicki Hobson, Robert Kruse, Kaitlin Rangel, Alyssa Wright, Jaci Crowe, Britanny Tasch, Cutter Bernhard, Mackenzie Haag, Jaylyn Hagen, Melanie Pascarella, Ashley Vaughan, Benjamin Cobb, Christian Herring, Tyler Kreuger, Jeffrey Butterworth, Cory Davis, Joshua Treiber and Samuel Winters.

Departmental awards were given to Oren Draznin for agricultural studies, computer science, English, science and social studies; Claire Jones for mathematics, journalism and business; Daniel Flores for Spanish; Samuel Winter for health and physical education; Hannah Lienweber for band; Megan Shepherd for art; and Ashley Vaughan for theater arts.

Brittany Tesch and Joshua Ramsey received the Heisman Memorial Trophy, awarded each year by Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers to scholar-athletes.

The Texas Association of Secondary School Principals honored Oren Draznin for earning the designation as the first Harper student to be designated as an All State Academic Finalist for 2007-2008.

The group also awarded Hannah Leinweber the TASSP Tens Serving Texas Award for leadership in school and community activities.

Claire Jones was awarded the Principal’s Award for Academic Achievement.

The Principal’s Award for Academic Improvement was given to Cory Davis, who showed the greatest improvement academically in his high school career.

UIL Scholar awards were given to Claire Jones, Oren Draznin, Hannah Leinweber, Andrew Chevalier and Amber Bowlin.

Each student ranked in the top 10 percent of the graduating class and participated in at least one UIL event during high school.

Members of Harper’s class of 2008 earned an excess of $868,000 in scholarship money.