Graduation weekend arrives for area schools

(File photo) An annual rite of passage will return Sunday as the Spencer School District holds its graduation ceremony. The program begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Spencer High School Fieldhouse.

It's a weekend for punch bowls, sheet cakes and maybe a few tissues as diplomas are handed out to the Class of 2009.

The Spencer School District is one of four area schools set to hold commencement Sunday. The 155 seniors in Spencer's 122nd graduating class will be recognized at the Spencer High School Fieldhouse. Doors will open one hour before the 2:30 p.m. event.

The Clay Central-Everly, Ruthven-Ayrshire and Sioux Central school districts have 2 p.m. ceremonies planned Sunday at their respective high school gymnasiums. Okoboji's graduation follows, a week later, on May 24. The commencement in Milford begins at 3 p.m. in the new high school gym.

Spencer High School Principal Joe Mueting hopes the senior class shares Sunday's memories with their families and friends.

"It's a nice ceremony and it is a memory-builder for them and that's why I think we make it a nice ceremony," he said. "But realize that family and friends have come from hundreds of miles. They want to sit and visit with them, and celebrate with them."

The Spencer High School band and choir departments will provide music for the prelude, including "God Bless America," a crowd-pleasing piece the music department performed at concert earlier this month.

The ceremony itself focuses on six student speakers and will take roughly an hour. Sam Brockshus is the welcoming speaker as student body president. Shayna Zellaha and Hannah Maertens will share the podium for a speech on past memories. Taylor Chapman and Aaron Brockshus anticipate the future for the Class of 2009 in their presentation. Closing remarks will be given by Craig Cunningham, the senior class president.

"We have a lot of seating and it will also be broadcast live on SMU (Spencer Municipal Utilities), so if there are people who have difficulty making it and don't want to sit in the bleachers they certainly can do that," Mueting said.

A handful of seniors may still have a few details to square away academically, but minor pieces of unfinished business generally doesn't prevent students from sharing Sunday's important moment with fellow graduates.The district holds onto their diplomas until all of the requirements are met.

"Students may walk across the stage and still owe fines maybe -- but they have to be within one of credit of graduating," Mueting said. "Some of them may be taking a course yet this summer."

Spencer Class of 2009 features 31 seniors who graduated with honors for maintaining a grade-point average of 3 to 3.49; another 16 students graduated with excellence, for a grade-point average of 3.5 to 3.74 and 17 students graduated with distinction for a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher.

"You wonder how you're ever going to replace them, but eventually other kids step up and you seem to have those same great kids the following year," Mueting said.

The high school principal noticed a quiet leadership in the Class of 2009. They led a lot by example, he said, and were always willing to do what needed to be done.

"This is really a very nice group of kids," Mueting said. "I can't say they were the boisterous leaders, certainly. They led by quiet example in an admirable way."

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AROUND THE AREA:

* A total of 332 seniors are set to receive diplomas as members of the Class of 2009. Here's an overview of commencements around the region:

Clay Central-Everly

Time: 2 p.m.

Date: Sunday, May 17

Place: Clay Central-Everly High School Gymnasium

Number of graduates: 30

Class colors: Red and gold

Class flower: Spider chrysanthemum

Class motto: "Whatever you do in life, keep smiling."

Ruthven-Ayrshire

Time: 2 p.m.

Date: Sunday, May 17

Place: Ruthven-Ayrshire High School Gymnasium

Number of graduates: 17

Class colors: Royal blue and silver

Class flower: Orchid

Class motto: "We are not responsible for the past, but we must be accountable for the future."

Sioux Central

Time: 2 p.m.

Date: Sunday, May 17

Place: Sioux Central School Gymnasium

Number of graduates: 54

Class colors: Purple and silver

Class flower: Dahlia

Class motto: "We've walked so far, we've grown so very close -- but yesterday became today and we are on the verge of tomorrow where we must go alone to find the dreams we all dreamed of together."

Spencer

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Date: Sunday, May 17

Place: Spencer High School Fieldhouse

Number of graduates: 155

Class colors: Purple and metallic gold

Class flower: Zinnia

Class motto: "He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."

Okoboji

Time: 3 p.m.

Date: Sunday, May 24

Place: The new Okoboji High School gym

Number of graduates: 76

Class colors: Maroon and black

Class flower: White rose tipped in maroon

Class motto: "We have come a long way, but not half as far as we will go."