Clovis High seniors prepare to take next step

With quotes received, quotes researched and quotes regifted, the Clovis High School class of 2012 took the next step forward in life.

CNJ staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis High senior Keegan Rury celebrates as she comes onto the stage during the school's graduation ceremony Saturday morning at the Curry County Events Center.

In front of a packed house at the Curry County Events Center, 366 graduates adorned with purple caps and gowns received the last piece of paper Clovis High would issue them as students — a diploma.

"Remember who you are and where you came from," Principal Wayne Marshall said. "You'll always be a Wildcat."

For Saturday, the outgoing seniors were storytellers, placesetters and prognosticators, as the speakers touched on their pasts going through the Clovis school system, the present as graduating seniors and the unknown future that lies ahead.

"Our teachers would tell us to write our names 10 times, then we could go outside," Class President Jared Vander Dussen said. "That sounds like an easy assignment — but do you know how hard it is to write 'Vander Dussen' when you're 5 years old?"

Vander Dussen went further into the upbringing of himself and other fellow students, when their sophomore year meant nearly an hour of open campus lunch, and six people would pile in a car meant for four people because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Brie Barth of Clovis uses her tablet Saturday to record the processional during Clovis High School's graduation ceremony at the Curry County Events Center. Barth said she came to see family member Jonathan Romero walk across the stage.

Senior Seth Curry remarked on the present, noting that the seniors didn't get there without somebody who taught them, somebody who cleaned up after them, somebody who gave them detention and others who essentially raised them — and asked many of them to stand up for specific recognition.

In a joking manner, Curry even showed he'd done some research for the speech, his final homework assignment.

"Alice Morse Earle said, 'Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present,'" Curry said. "You might also recognize that quote from 'Kung Fu Panda.' That's how I know it."

Class Vice President Taylor Marez joked before her prepared speech that the future couldn't possibly be brighter than the glowing lights focused on the stage, but felt the future was positive for her and other 2012 graduates.

"I'm sure if the Mayans knew that we were the class of 2012," Marez said, "they would have picked a different year for the world to end.

"But nobody needs to be afraid. The world's not ending; we're just taking over. We're going to be the next generation of researchers, surgeons and whatever we want to be."

Every student had a quote, as Marshall realized quite soon. The students started every day at CHS with public address announcements from Marshall, and he would include an inspirational quote.

So did they when they said good-bye. As each grabbed their diplomas and shook hands with school administration, they presented a colored slip of paper to Marshall. On each was a quote for Marshall, leaving his suit pockets looking like party favors by the end of the ceremony.

"I don't remember (what my quote said)," said senior Steven Tibbets, who plans to get his law career started by studying criminal justice at Eastern New Mexico University. "We just got them, and we were told to give them to (Marshall)."

Tibbets said he'll miss plenty about the school, including all of the good times he had with his friends.