Liberty’s diverse Class of 2011 gets diverse commencement messages

By BOB JACKSON

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The remarks from three leaders of Liberty High School’s Class of 2011 during graduation ceremonies Sunday were as diverse as the classmates to whom they were delivered.

Class President DeVante Hudson challenged his classmates to dream big and live superior lives, while Valedictorian Dorie Chevlen humorously acknowleged that the graduates are basically clueless about life and about themselves. Sandwiched in between them, Salutatorian Robert Diroll urged his classmates to not settle into a boring life of monotony.

“Stroll through today and rumble through tomorrow,” Diroll said. “Don’t become complacent.”

More than 140 young men and women, wearing gold and red caps and gowns, walked into Stambaugh Auditorium as high school students for the last time, and left as high school alumni.

“It’s kind of surreal,” said Shanese Napier, 17, shortly before the ceremony started. “It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m going to be on my own in a couple months.”

Napier, who will study fashion merchandising and design at Kent State University, said she “bawled like a baby” when she watched the senior video at the end of the school year, realizing that it was the end of the road for her high school years.

She hopes to eventually move to Chicago or Los Angeles and work for a fashion magazine.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com