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Mooresville graduates class of '09
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Published: June 14, 2009
Armed with a bottle of water — and now a diploma — the Mooresville High School graduates tossed their hats into the air Saturday morning, signaling the completion of the 13 years that brought them to this point.
Graduates were reminded that when school begins again in August, their lives will be different.
They would no longer live for the Friday night football games or convince Cynthia in the cafeteria to give them the best cookie, Valedictorian Alexa Martin said.
"I've seen in my years in Mooresville that we don't have to look far for heroes," she said. "Celebrate what you accomplished but look forward to what you will accomplish."
Salutatorian Michael Davidson said all the years of asking teachers why it was important to learn certain things were finally paying off as graduates decided what their next step in life would be.
Aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents and family friends cheered on their special graduate as they fanned away the humid air that seemed to make everyone sticky Saturday.
For the proud onlookers sitting in the stands or on the grass in the stadium, the ceremony was a milestone for a loved one.
Mooresville resident Belinda Ramsey said her granddaughter Ashley Flowers switched schools, but still managed to graduate just fine.
"I'm so glad she came through it," she said. "She's done great. I'm so proud of her."
Some of graduate Brittany Schrum's family drove more than 500 miles to see her walk across the stage with her diploma.
"She's a remarkable lady," said her aunt, Rebecca Valudes, visiting from Lancaster, Pa. "She's one of those people who puts other people first. If the world were filled with Brittanys, it would be a better place."
Valudes said her niece was planning to attend the University of North Carolina Greensboro in the fall to pursue a bachelor's degree in education and become a teacher.
"I'm excited for her," said Schrum's grandmother, Jean Sabbage. "She's achieved a lot."
Some families formed giant cheering squads for their own children and their friends' children.
Town resident Lisa Phifer jumped up and down and waved her umbrella when her daughter Janeshia Phifer crossed the platform in the middle of the football field.
"I just want to thank God," Phifer said.
Janeshia gave birth to two children while she was in high school. Her mother said that while Janeshia has always done well in school, her grades improved after her first child was born.
Her aunt Erica Frontis said Janeshia, who is taking courses to be a certified nurse assistant, was determined to graduate from high school. She will enter the nursing program at Mitchell Community College this fall.
"She was determined to build a foundation for her kids," Frontis said.
Davidson recapped for the class members and the audience that the Class of 2009 had endured a lot. During their time at Mooresville High, the school had four different principals, they were the first class allowed to take their math books home and weren't allowed to have a pep rally their senior year.
Students can always look back and remember the years when watching movies like "Superbad," "Pineapple Express" and "Step Brothers" over and over seemed like a good idea, Davidson said.
"Kiss our class goodbye," he said.
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