Grads primed to move onward

The 387 Boardman graduates were urged to create a legacy with their lives.

By ALISON KEMP

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — The atmosphere after graduates from Boardman High School recessed from their commencement was one of confusion.

Graduates were standing in the high school cafeteria, looking for their friends and parents. Family members, too, were searching for their graduates.

Then, as the connections were made, the questions from mothers changed to arranging their children into groups for photographs.

The 387 graduates and their families and friends packed the school’s gymnasium to capacity and BHS Principal Timothy Saxton offered the Performing Arts Center to anyone who wanted out of the heat and a seat with a back, where the ceremony could be watched on TV.

Words of wisdom

Frank Lazzeri, superintendent of Boardman Local Schools, provided the opening remarks.

He reminded the students they are “at a place in life full of opportunity and adventure.”

The acronym CAN was also part of Lazzeri’s speech. There were three points he wanted the graduates to take with them, and he told them to remember the points with CAN.

The first point was care. He wanted the students to care about people, the world and the past, present and future.

Secondly, Lazzeri wanted the graduates to aim high, take risks and not give up their dreams.

Lastly, the “N” signified “never stop learning.”

By following CAN, “we expect great things from you,” Lazzeri said.

Before Saxton presented the 89th BHS graduating class to receive its diplomas, he talked about the graduates’ making choices about life after high school. He wanted the graduates to pick a purpose for their lives and to create a legacy.

Moving forward

After each graduate’s name was read and the applause quieted, Saxton asked the class of 2007 to move their tassels from the left to the right.

The responses from the students after completing the commencement exercises did not vary much. They were glad to be finished and will miss their friends, but are ready to meet new people.

Sasan Ghassab, who will attend Youngstown State University and study mechanical engineering, said he is looking forward to the freedom he will gain when he goes to college.

Rachel Marie Wightman, who will study English and Spanish at YSU, said she will miss band; her friend, valedictorian Carolyn Anne Drummond, added she will miss walking around the track at football games.