Free State sends off its 10th class

Becca Sheldon-Sherman, left, and Molly Groene wait for the start of their graduation ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse. Sheldon-Sherman and Groene were part of the 10th class to graduate from Free State High School.

High School graduation

Stephen Webb proudly wore his green robe Sunday afternoon as an official Free State High School graduate.

At the same time, he was a little hesitant to end a good thing.

“It’s a mixed feeling of excitement that I’m finished with it and going a step higher in my life, and it’s a fear that I might not be seeing my friends again,” said Webb, who plans to attend Baker University in Baldwin City in the fall.

Webb said Free State’s Class of 2007 was special and close-knit. After all, his classmates helped him go from an “outcast” to being crowned prom king weeks ago.

The Lawrence school district recognized 356 graduates in Free State’s 10th class during commencement inside Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse. Most graduates participated and jubilantly threw their hats into the air at the ceremony’s close.

District administrators on Friday had moved Free State’s and Lawrence High School’s ceremonies inside because of construction near KU’s Memorial Stadium.

Speakers for Free State’s graduation chose words to both inspire and remember the class.

“Pat yourself on the back because you couldn’t have done it without some hard work,” said Jing Li, a valedictorian who addressed her fellow graduates.

Molly Fyler advised classmates to grasp their high school memories and past successes as they move forward.

“Yeah, high school is over, but the excitement is just about to begin,” she said.

For Free State Principal Joe Snyder it meant adding another group of school alumni.

“It’s a great day to hold these ceremonies because we have reached another milestone in the history of Free State High School,” he said.

Superintendent Randy Weseman ribbed the graduates by asking them whether they’d had time to find jobs yet.

“I’m pleased to be the first to congratulate you on this significant event in your life,” he said.

Physics teacher Trevor Herntier, who will be leaving this district, was honored as the school’s Educator of the Year.

Before the ceremony, class members lining up in the hallway expressed their thoughts about finishing high school.

“Being done with everything,” said Dakota Kahn, who plans to attend Johnson County Community College to study business.

“I can’t wait to see all of these people, and say ‘Hi’ for the last time,” said Bonnie Drees, who plans to attend Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo.

Friends and family members filled roughly half of the fieldhouse and sat through warm temperatures, particularly in the higher sections. But they were generally in festive moods, cheering at every opportunity. A few even snuck in air horns.

Weseman said the dual ceremonies were part of a day that was “perfect” and that the graduations would have been moved inside anyway based on the morning rain.

“We really appreciate KU helping us out with all of this,” he said.

Emily Dietz said she enjoyed the ceremony. Her future plans involve training to become a massage therapist.

“I’m kind of nervous. It’s just a big day,” she said.

Free State High School class of 2007

These Free State High School students graduated on Sunday.Kacee N. Abel, Brooke A. Abney, Eric R. Abney, Olivia A. Abney, Joshua C. Ahlert, Bryannita Aiken, Hazem Al-Gibaly, Joan M. Albers, Erika D. Albright, Austin J. Alexander, Anna E. Allen, Ayo R. Alston-Moore, Kenneth E. Altman, Alexander S. Anderson, Robert W. Anderson, Ashleigh A. Armstrong, William A. Armstrong, Kirin R. Arnold, Kathryn H. Ashley, Katherine V. Aucott, Jessica M. Baer, Summer D. Baker, Tiffany D. Baker, Christian Ballard, Taylor D. Barber, Bryce P. Baringer, Alex H. Barr, Jordan R. Barranco, Andrea R. Barricklow, Kenneth S. Beard Jr., Rachel M. Beard, Dean C. Beeson, Garrett M. Bergmann, Jack A. Berkowitz, Tanisha L. Birch, Michael J. Bird, Emily L. Black, Joshua L. Bliss, Clark E. Boatright, Anthony D. Bolden, Jonathan B. Bowles, Nicholas L. Bradburn, Emily S. Braden, Jenna E. Brantley, Jennifer P. Brooks, Chyna D. Brotherton, Anthony M. Brown, George E. Browne, James H. Bruce, Amanda M. Burgen, Allen J. Burkart, Nicholas J. Burkart, Robert R. Burnham Jr., Melissa K. Burnside, Weatherly D. Butler, Joshua P. Byrnes, Cameron A. Casady, Mikhail R. Ceesay, Alexandra L. Chamberlain, Joseph F. Chavez Jr., Ashlie M. Christianson, Ian W. Clark, Mara S. Clark, Marlissa R. Clark, Sarah A. Clark, Elizabeth Clement, Kacey J. Clements, Austin B. Cline, Ashleigh N. Coleman, Erica R. Collins, Dale T. Coons, Devin J. Cooper, Kyle W. Cooper, Nolan C. Couch, Kaitlen T. Cowell, Wyn Z. Cromwell, Kyle J. Cross, Eli K. Cullen, Andrew D. Dalager, Grace A. Daniels, Ashley N. Davis, Natasha A. Davis, Michael P. Davison, Mason L. Day, Justin W. Deaver, Brendan L. Desetti, Nicholas W. Devin, Laura M. Devlin, Emily K. Dietz, Bernadette L. Drees, Anthony T. Edmondson, Emily K. Edwards, Ashlee N. Ellis, Yasemin Ersoy, Travis C. Everett, Matthew E. Farrier, Bianca E. Fernandez, Emily B. Ferrier, Alyssa M. Finnestad, Carol K. Fittell, Richard J. Flaig, Emily M. Folks, Ashley D. Foster, Joshua A. Fowler, Jessica D. Freeman, Molly C. Fyler, Anthony M. Gatti, Dale A. Giermann Jr., Kristina M. Gist, Shauna D. Goger-Ozark, Monica D. Gonzalez, Terry A. Gray Jr., James C. Green, Benjamin C. Greenberg, Molly G. Groene, Grace-Elizabeth L. Grotta, Julia K. Guard, Alyssa K. Guinn, Ivan A. Habben, Kyleigh N. Haggard, Joel M. Hall, Sean E. Hall, Cami A. Halloran, John P. Harmon, Kelsey M. Harrison, Benjamin F. Harvey, Ithar H. Hassaballa, Richard W. Hatch, Caitlin E. Head, Ted M. Heffner, Shelton P. Heilman, Lacey L. Henry, Kevin J. Herman, Cruz E. Hernandez, Amanda M. Hill, Michael T. Hill, Brianna J. Hird, Taylor A. Hoag, Alyson J. Hock, Joshua D. Hoffhines, Katy E. Hoffman, Emma M. Hoyle, Megan A. Hrenchir, Ruilong Hu, John Hull, Michael D. Hurtig, Sydney L. Ice, Ejemeare I. Imafidon, Callie D. Ingram, Taylor R. Inverarity, Whitley N. Jackson, Hilary R. Janney, Ashley K. Jeffrey, Erin K. Johnson, Zachory L. Johnson, Kathrine M. Jones, Katrina P. Jongman-Sereno, Jacob S. Jordan, Blaine E. Juhl, Andrew J. Kaehr, Dakota B. Kahn, Kristen M. Karlin, Ryan T. Kearns, Nicholas W. Kennedy, Ashley D. Kilgore, Lauren E. Kimball, Evan Kimbrell, Samuel L. Kincaid, Emma K. King, Katharine E. Kisner, Kristopher R. Knowles, Nicole C. Koenig, Sally A. Konzem, Aleese A. Kopf, Sean R. Kopriva, Rozilind D. Kort, Yunchang Kwak, Evan W. LaCour, Fattin J. Lang, Kelsie A. Lange, James K. LaRocca, Robert L. Larrabee II, Whitney N. Laudick, Arielle C. Laue-Minden, Brian K. Leatherwood, Todd K. Lee, Jing Li, Brecken T. Liebl, Margarita N. Luevano, Lindsay L. Luiña, Sarita Mahinay, Lucas T. Mangelsdorf, Anthony T. Marshall, Michael A. Martinez, Rodger M. Matthews II, Holly E. Maygers, Rebecca D. Mayhew, Suzanne A. Mayse, Emily A. McCarthy, Michael J. McDonald, Lorrin M. McElroy, Megan D. McMurphy, William H. McTaggart, Lauren M. McWilliams, Kurtis R. Michael, Sara A. Minor, Thompson S. Minter, Stephen J. Mockry, Veronica J. Mohr, Mesha V. Monteaux, Lindsey N. Moore, Lori Jo Moore, Kaitlin E. Morris, Mitchell H. Morrow, Aspen M. Moss, Brian M. Murphy, Ryan D. Murphy, John A. Murray, Gene L. Nance, Delando D. Neal, Andy M. Neighbors, Cody A. Nelson, Werner L. Nelson, Angela L. Neu, Sarah J. Nichols, Tasson G. Nique, Samuel J. Nitcher, Steven M. Oakman, Cynthia Oben, Treasure T. Oben, Emily R. Ogan, Alexandra S. Oliver, William W. Oliver, Katherine L. Orscheln, Elizabeth A. Orzulak, Brian P. O’Toole, Whitney N Otte, Philip D. Ozorkiewicz, William N. Parker, Thomas A. Parrish, Sabina H. Patterson, DeMaris K. Patton, Adam C. Paulsen, Kelley M. Pederson, Bryant M. Peterson, Andrew T. Petz, Courtney L. Pfortmiller, Lauren A. Pipkin, Alex C. Place, Kaitlyn E. Poff, Cassandra E. Post, Edwin R. Presswood, Skyler H. Price, Aqmar Rahman, Jamar T. Reese, Sarah N. Rew, Michael T. Rezayazdi, Lauren E. Rhoades, Julia A. Richardson, Kelsey S. Richardson, Desiree N. Richmond-Zinn, Gryphon S. Riehm-Eagle, Clare M. Robinson, Aliza D. Rosenthal, Jamie M. Rovenstine, Mikel M. Ruder, Janice P. Russell, Alejandro J. Sabillon, Andrew F. Sack, Ashley J. Sakumura, William A. Schelar, Tarah M. Schmidt, Kyla L. Schneider, Jayme M. Schoneweis, Kyle M. Schreiner, Jessica A. Scott, Stevi R. Scrivo-Wisdom, Jordan D. Selk, James E. Shain, Rebecca V. Sheldon-Sherman, Christopher E. Shields, Clinton P. Shirk, David L. Sicilian, Lindsay K. Simms, Briahn M. Simons, Matthew R. Sloan, Benjamin D. Smith, Branden T. Smith, Christina M. Smith, Christopher T. Smith, Jessica L. Smith, Neal E. Smith, Raymond P. Smith, Tara L. Smith, Matthew J. Smysor I, Phillip M. Snodgrass, Byron A. Snowton, Marc E. Somers, Sylvia S. Somiari, Douglas F. Soules, Julian J. Spangler, Spencer J. Spotted Horse, Patrick J. Spurgeon, Caleb M. Stephens, Jessica R. Stogsdill, Alec K. Stremel, Kristin M. Strom, Virginia G. Strother, Michael L. Stubbs, Evan J. Stuit, Peeraya P. Suphakarn, Katie A. Swank, LaTonya D. Sweets, LaToya D. Sweets, Zebulon V. Taylor, Heidi E. TenPas, Loren P. Timmons, Chase D. Torgerson, Keron V. Toussaint, Abigail L. Towner, Judson P. Travis, Katie G. Travis, Penelope D. Tsatsoulis, Elijah Q. Turner, Shelly M. Turner, Grady T. Underwood, Corey M. Vadnais, Amanda M. Vervynck, Alexandria I. Vetter, Raquel A. Villeareal, Justin A. Vincent, Hunter R. Vore, Paul S. Wade, R. G. Walker, Lucca T. Wang, Laura L. Watkins, Stephen L. Webb, Amanda J. Webster, Rebecca E. Weinaug, Kyle T. Weinmaster, Shawn M. West, Samantha D. Wheeler, Whitney T. Wiebe, Andrew K. Wiesing, Thomas S. Willger, Emily R. Williams, Halie N. Williams, Anthony W. Williamson, Lindsay A. Williamson, Benjamin R. Wilson, Christina M. Wilson, Kendall A. Wilson, Austin D. Winn, Chris B. Witthaus, Austin P. Wright and Nathan W. Yankee.