Yosemite High School’s Class of 2001 formally received diplomas during graduation ceremonies last Friday on the field at the YHS football stadium.

After they entered the field through a lattice archway, the 235 graduates took their seats for the last time as high school students. And to the deep beginnings of Richard Strauss’ "Dawn" prologue to "Also Sprach Zarathustra," the class reveled in the theme that many recognized as opening strains to the movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey." Many parents had a moment of nostalgia, for the movie theme was popular when they were the age of this year’s graduating class.

Everyone stood while students Anne Graham, Kimberlina Rickards and Michelle Sawvelle sang the National Anthem.

In the welcome address Steve Raupp, YHS principal, commented that this year’s class was the first to enjoy the honor of having diplomas bearing Distinguished School emblems.

The student welcome was given by Sierra Smith, who also had the honor of being chosen as Student of the Year. She related how her fellow students had, through their high school years, become involved in the community, secured employment and received recognition for high scores on their SAT-9 tests. While mentioning that this graduating class is a truly special one, she also said, "Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." Sierra ended her welcome by reminding everyone to, "Always keep smiling."

YHS District Superintendent Bill McCabe then gave a congratulatory speech and introduced the board members.

The next student speaker was Lindsay Osborne. Her words carried confidently across the sea of people, who listened as she shared her advice. "Put in your suit case every kind word ever spoken to you, every good thing that ever happened to you and every smile." She also mentioned that her one regret was that she did not get to know everyone in her class better, and that perhaps their paths will cross someday in the future. "Change is the only constant. Leaving Yosemite High School, we find ourselves looking back to having made so many friends, and how we shaped ourselves to what we’ve experienced," she said. "We learned to change gracefully, without any regrets. This may be the end of something, but also the beginning of another."

Mr. Raupp made the presentation of CSFlife members, valedictorians and International Baccalaureate Full Diploma candidates.

Valedictorian speaker Virginia Corless mentioned the space race in her speech, and a metaphorical blackness, where there will be light again. Ginny said that while there was no way to express exactly how she felt, those who were also experiencing it could understand very well. The years flowed by, with students who sat in class (and sometimes slept!), with the dances and the parties. There was the break with childhood, and the experience of being "torn between memories we hold and the future we envision," said Ginny.

A musical performance entitled, "I Hope You Dance," by Alison Sciarrino and Nicholas Starkey, treated the students, staff and guests to meaningful words accompanied by well-blended strains of guitar music.

Brandi Tsang, another gifted class speaker, spoke of new adventures and new experiences in life and the feeling of not knowing what will happen. "Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom," she said Her many thoughtful and inspiring quotes included such advice as, "Experience is not what happens to us, but what we do with the experiences we have. We have dreams and fears, and whichever is bigger is the one that wins. Life is a privilege we reserve for ourselves." Brandi also commented that, "In our hands exists the power to change and create. Footprints on the sands of time do not come from sitting down."

Next, Senior Class President Travis Costell and Associated Student Body President Athena Zinich took the podium as class speakers. Their presentation included the comparison of the students being thrown into a mix, much like grapes in a press, blending together all the values they learned from different classmates. They also emphasized the importance of service, the value of life, and how happiness can be had no matter what challenges confront us. They recognized that life can change at any given moment, and that people can thrive on hope, faith, love and especially on experiences. "You can be taught knowledge," said Travis, reinforcing the message of fellow classmate Brandi Tsang, "but true wisdom comes from experience. I have learned that your life can change at any moment." That truth, about life changing, was frequently brought to light during the evening. It was not overused, but was more like an exotic spice, just the right touch to flavor the messages sent out to the students as they face the challenges of life as adults. "Something I learned from my mother," said Athena, "is that if you are betrayed once, it’s not your fault. If you are be­trayed twice, it is your fault. And if you have been betrayed three times, you are a fool."

Another musical performance, this time by Corina Malcolm and Caroline McCarty, was very well received by everyone. The graduating seniors reached under their chairs to find the words that enabled them to sing along to the rap-style, yet soothing melody, entitled, "The Graduation Song." The song encouraged the students with the words, "As we go on, we remember all the times we had together. As our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever."

Then it was time to step onto the stage to receive their diplomas. As they lined up, row-by-row, some gave a "thumbs-up" to relatives they spied or threw kisses to friends in the crowd.