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Seniors 'Set Sail' At County Graduations

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By RONNIE BLAIR

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2008

TAMPA - If the parade of Land O' Lakes High seniors seemed to keep coming and coming during Thursday morning's graduation ceremony at the Sun Dome, there was good reason.

The school gave out 591 diplomas, its largest class ever.

The history-making number was so high that someone forgot to count properly. The nine graduates who brought up the rear of the procession arrived to find all the seats taken, forcing the quick assembly of an extra row of folding chairs.

Handling a student overflow is old hat for Land O' Lakes, one of the county's most crowded schools.

With that glitch over, the class of 2008 moved smoothly through the ceremony.

"Congratulations, we did it," said Anastasia Hiller, the valedictorian for the school's traditional program. "It's time to set sail."

Four high schools in Pasco held commencement ceremonies Thursday.

Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Mitchell graduations happened at the Sun Dome.

Zephyrhills High handed out diplomas at the Lakeland Civic Center.

In the midst of the celebrations, Land O' Lakes High and Wesley Chapel High took time to remember seniors killed in traffic accidents during the school year.

Land O' Lakes Principal Monica Ilse presented an honorary diploma to the family of David Osteen, who died Nov. 27.

Three deceased Wesley Chapel High seniors - Matthew Laidley, Kristin Gaskin and Tabatha Pastrana - were listed in the commencement program with hearts beside their names.

Christina Choe, the Wesley Chapel student government president, remembered those classmates in her remarks.

"Our school took a hard hit, and we were changed forever," she said.

State Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, served as a guest speaker for Land O' Lakes High, his alma mater. Weatherford said he found inspiration for the Class of 2008 as he thumbed through his old yearbook.

Three students had put the same quote in the yearbook, he said.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Jake Proudfoot, 18, who was in the International Baccalaureate program at Land O' Lakes, was attempting to do just that.

"I'm just trying to accept the fact I'm done," said Proudfoot, 18. "I don't think it's hit me yet."

Amanda Miley, 18, another Land O' Lakes senior, is headed to the University of Central Florida, where she plans to study theater.

"I'd really like to go into acting for theater and maybe dabble in movies if I ever get that far," she said.

Jonathan Sheloff, 17, of Land O' Lakes, doesn't anticipate any trouble making the transition to Hillsborough Community College and later the University of Central Florida.

"I'm excited to be off to college," he said. "I'm an independent person."

David Perez, 18, one of the 480 Wesley Chapel High graduates, said his next stop is likely Pasco-Hernando Community College. He wants to become a mechanic.

He said he will miss his friends and some teachers, but not the homework.

Erika Smith, 18, of Wesley Chapel High, who plans to become a nurse, said graduation day is exciting, but she admitted to another emotion as well.

"I've been really nervous," she said.

Valedictorian Natalie Wells, in her speech to her Wesley Chapel classmates, said such feelings were normal, calling graduation an "exciting, terrifying endeavor." She urged them to persevere in whatever they do in life.

"Don't let the fear of striking out," she said, "keep you from playing the game."

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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