Goodbye, class of 2008

High school has finally come to an end for more than 300 Shelby County High School students.

For some, graduation was the final step before starting college or a career. And for some it was simply the end of homework, tests and detention. Either way, the ceremony was a cause for celebration.

During the ceremony, co-valedictorians Elizabeth Shemo and Andrew Moffett addressed the audience.

In her speech, Shemo encouraged graduates to leave high school with confidence.

"When we walked into Shelby County High School, we were expected to be afraid," she said. "And now, I challenge you to be bold as you go out."

As the students' names were called, the graduates walked up on the stage and shook hands with incoming superintendent James Neihof and then SCHS principal Gary Kidwell. As has been the tradition in past years, several students slipped Kidwell beads or a knick-knack when they shook hands. Kidwell, who took the mild break in dcor in stride, had a box on the stage to pitch the mementos.

At the end of the ceremony, after graduates had tossed their caps in the air, one of the seniors felt she knew of better way to end the ceremony. On her own, Raechele Gray took the stage, grabbed the microphone, and led the audience in prayer. Gray told the audience that only those who desired to should participate. She said she lead the prayer because, "we need God and we need prayer."

Two years ago, the traditional prayer in SCHS graduation ceremony was excluded because of the complaint of a student.