Pioneer High School graduates 13

True to the name, Pioneer High School graduates were the first to blaze into the new millennium with their official graduation ceremony Tuesday night.

The high school, formerly known as Alternative High, held its second commencement exercise at the Governor's Mansion at 6 p.m.

"I'm excited, nervous and scared all at the same time," said graduate Marsha Schlachta. "This is where life begins."

Alison Brown was proud to be part of the new high school.

"It's awesome," she said. "We're only the second people to graduate from it. We're different."

Principal Charles Keller said the Carson City school was designed to accommodate the different students.

"Here are 13 students that would not have made it at Carson High School. They needed a different type of system and a different type of structure," he said. "It's a true success story."

Lindy Johnson, the valedictorian, spoke of how the school had grown over the last year.

"I loved it," she said before the ceremony. "I learned a lot of different things. I learned how to fit in more."

Johnson said she was shocked and honored to learn that she would be graduating at the top of her class but said she had help getting there.

"The teachers are what make the school," she said.

Carson High School Principal Glen Adair said he is pleased with the progress of the school.

"It is the most successful it has ever been," he said.

Other area high schools will soon follow with graduation ceremonies.

Dayton, Smith Valley, and Galena high schools will graduate on Friday. Carson City, Virginia City, Fernley and Yerington high schools will graduate on Saturday.

Douglas High School will hold its graduation ceremony on June 16.

This year's graduates from Pioneer High School are:

Tamara Lynn Babb

Katie Belle Baldwin

Alison Lyn Brown

Rachel Amanda Bryla

Louis Paul Carrette

Shawna M. Daniels

Lindy Suzanne Johnson

Danny Andre Malone

Christopher Francis McDaniel

Krista E. Oates

Marsha Lynn Schlachta

Robert Edward Slater

Jerrie Lynn VanDeusen