The celebration for Mount Vernon seniors spanned over 12 hours. Starting with a commencement ceremony at 4 p.m., the senior all-night party ran well past 4 a.m. There was plenty to keep the students busy.
According to Cynthia Prieto, Subschool IV Principal, commencement ceremonies went without a hitch.
"It was fantastic, the kids behaved wonderfully. We've had many accolades from people about the ceremony," said Prieto
While the commencement ceremonies gave students a time to look forward, it was also a time to look back and see how far they'd come.
Tiffany Carter, president, class of 2003, and Albert Lawrence, president, Student Government Association, gave their message to the seniors.
"We've done things we never thought possible," said Lawrence.
Anne Harrington and Alicia Feth introduced the valedictorians: Albert Lawrence, Marisa Busse, Laura Jones, Jacqueline Schramm, Matthew Biggerstaff, My-Phuong Nguyen, Alexia Rostow, Brooke Sorber and Annie Lee.
Busse spoke first, saying, "I'm honored to have the opportunity to speak this afternoon." She went on to say how their lives have been dictated for them so far.
"The rules were carefully crafted. We were told what was right and wrong, what to do and not to do," said Busse.
All that is changing and she said, "Don't live a life accepting everything that society wants you to."
Jones said that the students were at the intersection of childhood and adulthood; the past and future.
"There are unforeseen barriers to goals, but with persistence, we can overcome those goals. The key to taking charge of the present is to remember the past," she said.
Taylor spoke about how the future is a mystery.
"We will set sail away from horizons so familiar," she said. "We will move away from comfort and proceed through life with pride, dignity and perseverance."
Taylor said that there was "no stopping the Class of 2003." She also acknowledged the people who helped them get there.
"Look into the stands at the family and friends who are here; we couldn't have done it without them. Now it's time to let go of the hand we're so accustomed to holding. We are strong, intelligent, confident and goal-oriented. We are ready to fly."
"FEEL THE ENERGY," said Lawrence, as he took the podium once again as the last valedictorian to speak.
"We might not know where we are going or how to get there, but if we have perseverance, we can do it," he said. "We have dreams and that requires us to put aside our fears."
Lawrence used the analogy of building a ladder, to "climb the tree where we want to go."
"We are all on our way to accomplish what we want."
On his way to Yale University, Lawrence plans to major in political science and theater. In addition to being recognized as valedictorian, one of the top 10 students, and an IB diploma candidate, Lawrence also received numerous awards, including the faculty award and the school award. He received scholarships from Yale, Coca-Cola, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Shiloh Baptist Church. He and others received their awards and scholarships at a convocation ceremony held at the high school on Tuesday, June 17.
"I think it's wonderful, he's always been very focused," said Albert's mother, Stephanie Lawrence.
TO CELEBRATE the success of former students, Mount Vernon High School invited back Tonya Saules, class of '92 and Eddie Saules, III, class of '87. Tonya sang "If I Could" by Regina Bell, while Eddie provided the piano music.
Also returning to give the commencement address was Angel Harris-Lewis, J.D. The president of the Class of 1993, she now works as the Northwest Missouri State Council to the President and Director of ADA and EEO Compliance; she is also the Student Bar Association President
Harris-Lewis addressed the students by saying, "I have a new message for you. You ain't heard nothing yet."
She said, "You've heard a lot about the past, present and the future. I call it what has already happened, what is happening and what is going to happen next."
Emphasizing the importance of concentrating on what's happening now, she said that the past has "already been done, already figured out." She advised the students that they should "aspire about the future," but never "perspire about the future."
Regina Taylor, sponsor, Class of 2003, thanked Harris-Lewis, describing her as "vibrant, enthusiastic, envisionary and dedicated."
Diplomas were then presented to the graduates; interrupted by a bittersweet moment when Angela Bassett came forward to accept the diploma of her daughter, Brandy Nicole Brewster, who died suddenly in May.
THE STUDENTS HAD TIME to catch their breath, catch a bite to eat and then it was party time. Seniors started showing up at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center shortly after 11 p.m.
They checked in, receiving bags to use for their belongings in case they wanted to take advantage of the swimming pool.
If they had time.
With so many things going on, it was a good bet that many of the students didnít make it to the pool. They were probably distracted along the way by the blackjack and roulette tables, or perhaps the human bowling. They may have stopped at the room where the Sumo wrestlers were suiting up, and either joined in themselves or just watched the matches. They may have done some disco dancing, gotten a bite to eat or done one of the many other activities.
"I think everything went very well," said Prieto.
The party didn't end that morning for Mercy Boateng. As one of the 42 finalists chosen for the final drawing of the Ford Focus, she went onto the final drawing a few days later. Prieto said that all the finalists are called individually to receive a prize, but that as it gets closer to the end, the chance of winning the car are greater.
When it was down to the last 5 or 6 names and Boateng's name still hadn't been called, Karen Portman, the all-night senior party chairperson who accompanied Boateng to the drawing, said, "Is your heart pounding?"
It was, and even more so when Boateng realized that sometimes it's best to be last. As the last name to be called, she was indeed the winner of a brand new car.