Douglas High graduates celebrate 'their day'

Bright orange socks and a feather boa were not part of Douglas High School's graduation dress code but that did not stop students from wearing them.

"Today is a celebration," said Mary Zimmerman, one of the student speakers. "Today is our day."

That is exactly why Lauren Davis lined her black graduation gown with pink imitation fur for the ceremony Friday evening.

"It's fun and exciting," she said. "It's a passage in your life. I'll be serious when I graduate from college."

The 376 graduating students each brought an individual style to the ceremony.

The most dominant theme, however, was a Hawaiian look in preparation for the graduation party later that night.

Heather Thomson wore a grass skirt and a bra top made of coconut shells.

"We were going to go big or we were going to go home,"

Thomson threw a luau for fellow graduates after the ceremony.

"It's been in the works since freshman year," she said. "We're all going to grad night later on so we're going to wrap it up early, around 11 or 12."

Amid the celebration, however, there was a bit of sadness.

"I'm sad that it's over," said graduate Becky Nielson. "When you're in school, you can't wait to get out but once you're out, you'll never see these people again and that's sad."

Valedictorian Mariah Weigel said she felt a sense of accomplishment.

"I've always been taught to do my best," she said. "This is the reward for working hard."

Allison McCormick was also a valedictorian and Jared Petersen graduated as salutatorian.

The ceremony did not feature a keynote speaker nor salutatory and valedictory addresses. Instead, a speech contest was open to all seniors and the top five were chosen to speak.

Mandy Holdeman captured the confidence of the class of 2000 in her speech.

"Our lives are just beginning," she said. "We are not only preparing to enter the real world but we are preparing to lead it."

Jennifer Allen joked about that leadership.

"This is going to be a scary world once we start running it," she said in her speech.

She also advised students to be in control of their own lives.

"Take your life into the palm of your hand and mold it," she said. "You're the only self you've got, so trust in you."

Graduates stood and cheered for Alicia Burns after she sang the song she wrote for them.

In it, she expressed the insecurity that graduates can feel as they leave high school.

"I shove off into the weary world that retires my title as a little girl and I don't even know who I am," she sang.

Regardless of what they wore or what plans they have for the future, the graduates will always have one thing in common.

"Our dreams began at Douglas High," said Candice Beam in the speech she gave with Nicole McBride.