By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Amid a sea of parents, friends, teachers and mentors, more than 750 graduates from Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill high schools made their way across a stage and out into the world on Saturday.
“We made it, baby,†East Chapel Hill High graduate Antonio Sales told members of his graduating class. “We’re here.â€
Both high schools held graduation ceremonies at the Dean Smith Center on UNC’s campus to accommodate the huge crowds that turned out to celebrate the graduates.
Clad in black caps and gowns, graduates were congratulated by school staff and administrators as they walked across the stage.
East Chapel Hill High Principal David Thaden noted the diversity of his school’s senior class, with scholars, athletes, talkers, mathletes and chess players graduating this year. He pushed the students to continue to work toward their goals.
“I want to challenge all of you to look for the opportunities to make tomorrow magical,†he said. “I know you. I expect great things of you.â€
“Dream those dreams and act on it,†he added. “Don’t let anything stand in your way.â€
Student speakers expressed excitement and nostalgia to be leaving their homes of the past four years.
Lucas Lallinger, one of East Chapel Hill High’s valedictorians, joked with his classmates about the long study hours and intense diligence required of an East Chapel Hill High valedictorian.
However, he said, “in all seriousness, I’m going to miss East,†he said. “Probably.â€
East Chapel Hill High graduate Samuel Kirkpatrick reflected on his experiences in high school, drawing comparisons between high school and Star Wars.
“Attending East, we are pressured to succeed,†he said. “Just the same, everyone pressured Anakin Skywalker.… Well, look at what happened to him — he became Darth Vader.â€
Kirkpatrick encouraged his fellow classmates to instead take the path of Luke Skywalker.
“Over these past four years, we’ve learned things about ourselves and life in general,†he said. “But now it’s time we take these experiences out into the real world.
“We need to get out there and discover new things.â€
At Chapel Hill High’s commencement later in the day, senior class co-presidents Kirstin Moy and Caitlin Styres led off the program.
For now, Moy said, many in the class of 2007 are not headed too far away and the change may not seem so monumental.
“But years from now, when we look back at this moment, we will realize that this was one of the pivotal moments of our lives,†she said.
Senior class vice president Hye Won Kim announced the class of 2007’s gift to the school would be four new picnic tables.
“I know it doesn’t seem like much, but the school really needs them,†she said.
The senior class council, she noted, opted against a tiger cub, although it would have made “a truly awesome gift.â€
The day was not entirely filled with speeches. The school’s chamber choir serenaded grads and their families with Benjamin Britten’s “The Evening Primrose.†and during the changing of the guard at the podiums there were eruptions of beach balls (and at least one small, inflatable raft).
Valedictorians were recognized at both high schools’ ceremonies. East Chapel Hill High’s 2006-07 valedictorians are Meg Xiao He, Amanda Huffman, Lucas Lallinger, Kirsten Nielsen, Jacob Socolar and Mario Yang. Chapel Hill High’s valedictorians are Anahid Behrouzi, Brian Judge, James Kylstra and Colleen Murphy.
The graduates leave their schools with hundreds of scholarships and awards from a great many organizations, colleges and universities.