The Dean Dome was rocking Saturday – for Tigers and Wildcats rather than Tar Heels – as Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill high held graduation ceremonies.
Nearly 400 anxious-looking CHHS students dressed in caps and gowns lined the corridors of the Smith Center before their afternoon ceremony began. Sporadic applause and shouting from the seating area was audible even before any of the students entered, as the faces and names of graduates were displayed on the big screens around the court.
“I’m hearing angelic voices,†Byron Beddingfield said jokingly as he stood at the head of one of the lines of students waiting for the call to start the procession toward their seats.
Beddingfield, 18, who plans to attend North Carolina State University in the fall, also joked about presenting a key as the class gift in light of the recent cheating scandal – in which four students were suspended for having had access to a stolen master key to the high school – but said the notion was rejected by the administration.
The actual class gift was a new PA system for the soccer field, which will allow the announcer to finally retire his megaphone.
Beddingfield stood in line with Sophia and Erienne “Eri†Bauers, 18-year-old identical twins for whom graduation from high school represents an even bigger change – a separation from each other. Sophia will be entering Elon University in the fall and Eri will be staying in Chapel Hill to begin classes at UNC.
Despite this future fork in the road, the twins were caught up in the moment, focused on “finally graduating†and enjoying the momentous occasion.
“We’re definitely going to do some beach ball action,†said Sophia, just before the students began filing down the aisles to their chairs.
In her welcome address, Student Body President Ellie Jesse recalled the memorable
accomplishments of the class of 2008 in academics, athletics, leadership and community service.
“I think the one thing we’ll remember is the uniqueness of our school,†Jesse said, in a speech followed by applause and the first volley of beach balls from the graduates, a trend that would persist throughout the ceremony.
The day was especially memorable for Jacqueline Ellis, the new principal at Chapel Hill High School.
“I never imagined all of you would become familiar faces,†Ellis said in a speech in which she recalled her first days on the job.
“Regardless of direction, I assure you you will feel the same way I did at the beginning of the year,†Ellis said, “but soon you will meet new familiar faces.â€