End-zone celebrations Sunday at Memorial Stadium weren’t in reaction to rare Jayhawk touchdowns.

Screams from thousands of admirers, blasts from noisemakers and camera flashes from the bleachers were in honor of 396 Lawrence High School and 357 Free State High School seniors earning diplomas with the Class of 2003.

“Graduation is indeed one of life’s profound transitions,” Supt. Randy Weseman told Lions in black cap and gown and Firebirds in green academic regalia at separate ceremonies.

“I know, on one hand, you’re feeling elation. You’re thinking, ‘I’m out of here.'”

For seniors, that means no more kissing on the playground. Out with “healthy” school lunches. Time to cast those romantic tragedies aside. No more hall monitors. Nevermore to pushing past sophomores clogging stairways like guppies.

“But at the same time,” Weseman continued, “I know that you feel a little anxiety as you wonder, ‘What am I going to do now?'”

Before graduates leap into the next phase of life, the district’s school board president, Scott Morgan, advised graduates to look their parents or guardians in the eye and proclaim: “Thank you.”

“Parents are the one group of people on this planet who would endure a blown-out diaper and not only let you continue to sleep inside but actually grow to love and admire you more,” he said.

Both high schools selected two seniors to address their respective graduation ceremonies — the 129th at LHS and sixth at Free State. Joshua Dugan and Jaime Netzer represented Free State, while Nichole Rapp and Rachel Ybarra spoke on behalf of LHS.

Ybarra said she felt good about walking away from LHS. It was great mixing it up at school with nerds, athletes, geeks, slackers, party animals, scholars, chicks with dog collars and the Ozzy Osbourne watchers, she said.

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She’ll also cherish a unifying trait of those from LHS: “We are Lions, but not just any Lions. We are Chesty Lions. We’re lifelong friends, and we are friends who don’t let friends live north of 15th Street.”

At the Free State commencement, Dugan picked up on themes of diversity and unity.

“Have confidence that we each will continue to take pride in our individuality while always respecting our unity,” he said. “Embrace whatever change and growth awaits us.”

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Under cloud-dotted skies, students from both high schools started the programs by marching to seats next to the stadium’s north end zone. Following speeches, each student crossed in front of classmates, shook hands with Morgan and accepted a diploma.

Relatives and friends — many under floppy hats or umbrellas to block the sun — applauded a job well done.

“Way to go, Nicole!”

¢ Graduation photo gallery¢ Class of 2003 pulls all-nighter for ‘Project’¢ Free State High School Class of 2003¢ Lawrence High School Class of 2003¢ See more graduation stories

“Eric!”

“Sar-ah!”

“Hey, Laurie!”

The 22 valedictorians from Free State and eight valedictorians from LHS were presented medallions. National Honor Society members and students in the top 10 percent academically at both schools were recognized.

Free State and LHS principals announced the outstanding teachers of the year based on student voting. They are LHS’ David Platt, who also won last year, and Mary Chapman of Free State.