Ridge's Class of 2011 Looks Forward to Wednesday's Graduation Ceremony

Ridge High School’s Class of 2011 is set to graduate on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. on Lee Field. With graduation on the horizon, many of Ridge’s outgoing seniors say they are full of pride and bubbling excitement about the future that awaits them.

This year, Senior Class President Ian Eisele and two other graduating seniors, Alyssa Lopez and Katelyn Stover, are scheduled to address the crowd of parents and well-wishers.

“The most exciting part of graduation is knowing that we are done with this portion of our lives and knowing that we are moving on to bigger and better things in the fall,” Eisele said.

Yet, students still expressed a sense of appreciation and nostalgia for old memories and the traditions that will mark the end of their high school careers.

“As seniors in high school, or as teenagers in general, we tend to want to grow up really fast and be adults,” Lopez said. “I can’t tell you how many times I have said and heard, ‘I can’t wait to get out of this place’! We are so excited to get to tomorrow that we don’t look back at the wonderful times of yesterday.”

Like the ceremonies preceding it, the commencement will begin with the Ridge faculty and graduating class striding onto the field while the band plays the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Once everyone is in their seats, the senior choir members gather for one of their last performances with their high school choir, as they sing the National Anthem and salute the American flag.

“It's an absolutely wonderful opportunity to be part of the graduation ceremony in a substantial way. The Star-Spangled Banner means to much to so many people, so it's great to get to be part of this experience,” said Abel Flint, a senior choir member.

Each year, three students are selected to give a speech to their families and peers at the graduation ceremony. 

While the senior class president is always given the privilege to speak, and Eisele fills that position. However, Lopez and Stover were selected from a competitive pool of ten candidates. Ten faculty members, who serve as judges, read all submitted speeches and vote on their top five choices.The five finalists then presented their speeches to the faculty panel, as if at the ceremony. Then, two student speakers were chosen within minutes of he presentation.

“Intense would probably be the best way to describe [the selection process],” Stover said.

All of the speakers have a mission to address their classmates with gratitude, sentiment, and words of wisdom.

“The main message I want to convey to my classmates is that is to look fondly back on our high school experiences and go off into the future knowing that Ridge has prepared us well for the future,” Eisele said.

In her speech, Lopez said she will be full of appreciation and warm memories of the people who have shaped her childhood experience.

“I hope through my speech, my classmates can realize how much fun we have had together over these past 12 years of school and go back to those short precious moments that define us,” Lopez said. “I also hope that everyone (students, teachers, and parents) realizes how important each and every person has been to me. Everyone that comes into your life leaves a mark on you in a certain way, and I just wanted to thank everyone for leaving their mark on me.”

Stover’s speech encourages the Class of 2011 to cherish all of the high school memories — both good and bad — and to not worry too much.

“I hope to remind people that it’s the combination of all your experiences that make life great, not just the glamorous or exciting ones...Each of us has had great successes in academics, athletics, work, community service, and the arts; however, I think it’s equally important to remember the average days—the ones where you didn’t get enough sleep, tripped up the stairs, and forgot your calc homework. Those were the days where you really learned and grew… Life unravels in interesting ways, and when things aren’t going the direction we’ve planned, we shouldn’t sweat it too much because we’re still going to end up where we need to be,” Stover wrote.

The graduation ceremony will be held outside at Lee Field, the school's football field, rain or shine. Tickets will not be required as long as the ceremony remains outdoors. Only in cases of severe weather will the ceremonies be hosted in the new gym. In this case, three tickets will be distributed per family.