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High school class of 2009 celebrates past, looks to future

An end and a beginning collided for 153 Smithville High School graduates and their families last week.

The graduation ceremony was at Liberty’s Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Sunday, May 17, and carried the mix of emotion that the transition brings.

Graduation came much too soon for many parents, such as Julie Marriott.

“I’m very sad that she’s leaving us,” Marriott said. Her daughter, Erin Winger, plans to go on to nursing school in Alaska, where her boyfriend is stationed in the military.

Yet, the day didn’t come soon enough for many graduates, such as Dakota Olson.

“I’m really not sad at all to leave high school,” he said.

He’ll soon move on to Park University in Parkville, where he’ll study graphic design.

What’s he looking forward to the most?

“The freedom,” he said.

In green and white caps and gowns, the graduates created many final high school memories. Some of the guys struck goofy poses for the cameras during the processional. The senior slideshow, full of baby pictures and senior pictures, brought laughs and tears. At least one of the graduation speeches will go down in history. Joshua Hughes, one of four valedictorians, sang his speech. The performance was fitting for Hughes, a musical star throughout high school who plans to continue singing through college and beyond. His theatrical creation even rhymed, with lines such as, “High school ends right now, we’ve survived four years some how.” Anxious anticipation about the future filled the day.

Former Smithville teacher John Unrein, who graduates picked as the featured speaker, left the students with a dozen pieces of advice for their next chapter in life. Unrein left Smithville for the Park Hill School District and Park University a year ago.

His 12 points included:

• Set realistic goals and look at the goals each day.
• Continue your education.
• Vote and vote often.
• Respect your elders.
• Remember that you’re the most beautiful person in the world.
• Choose a career you love and you won’t have to “work” a day in your life.
• Don’t be reckless with others’ hearts and don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
• Avoid selfish people.
• Avoid credit cards.
• Be persistent.
• Marry your best friend — after college.
• If at first you don’t succeed, do what your parents told you to do.
Many parents, such as Olson’s, weren’t quite as enthusiastic about the future as their children.
“I definitely wouldn’t say I’m excited,” Rita Olson said.
She and her husband, Mike Olson, know their son can take care of himself. For example, when he went to Australia for 18 days as a 13 year old, he contacted his parents once — by postcard.
But that doesn’t make this an easy time.
“It’s hard to let go,” Rita Olson said.

TOP GRADUATES

Smithville High School class of 2009 valedictorians and salutatorian:

- Valedictorians — Allie Daraban, Stefanie Duff, Joshua Hughes, Corey Robinson. Each of the four carried a 4.0 grade-point average throughout high school.
- Salutatorian — Matt Spies

NEXT WEEK

Look in the Smithville Herald’s Wednesday, May 27, for a list of scholarships announced during the May 14 senior awards night.


Smithville Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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