PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

For 128 outgoing students, a time to look back, forward

Lori Falce

School: Philipsburg-Osceola Area Senior High School

CDT/Michelle Bixby

David Quick, left, and Paul Hahn get their classmates pumped up by clapping before the 2009 Philipsburg-Osceola graduation ceremonies Friday, June 5, 2009. CDT/Michelle Bixby

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• Philipsburg-Osceola graduation photos

The ceremony: 7 p.m., Friday, Memorial Stadium, Philipsburg

Colors: Men in royal blue, women in white

Number of graduates: 128

Valedictorian: Steven Michael Lazar

What he said: “Each and every one of us is an ambassador. ...You stay classy, Philipsburg-Osceola.”

Salutatorian: Lauren Elizabeth Murphy

What she said: A summary of the most important things she learned at P-O, including that teachers are people, too (”It wasn’t a student that started that rubber band war.”), and sharing is “a kindergarten lesson that never goes out of style.”

Pop culture reference: Lazar quoted the class motto, cribbed from Will Ferrell’s “Anchorman” character, “Ron Burgundy”: “We’ve been coming to the same party for 12 years — and in no way is that depressing.” 

Weather: Increasingly drizzly. A gray sky and mist threatened to turn to real rain at any moment, but held off until most of the cars were out of the parking lot.

Notable departure: Superintendent Charles Young, who saw most of the class start out as freshmen during his tenure as high school principal, was not on hand due to a medical leave and retirement. Acting Superintendent Stephen Benson performed the duties in his stead.

What he said: “The Class of 2009 has the distinction of graduating at the best of times and the worst of times,” said Benson, referring to the current economic climate. “This is the best of times for young people with new thinking.”

What students will remember most about P-O: “We have a lot of really different kinds of people here,” said Breanna Nicole Smith.

“All the kids here are great, down-to-earth, awesome, crazy, but all right,” said Nicholis Tyler Frank.

Best sign: None. P-O’s graduation was all about air horns, which sounded loudly from different portions of the stands, and the senior seating itself, as various graduates crossed the stage.

Loudest applause: For senior Lindsey Renee Dove, as she was wheeled across the stage to accept her diploma.

Cap toss: The blue and white mortarboards went flying as the last notes of the alma mater still hung in the air, sung by the class, and the smattering of alumni in the bleachers who remembered the words.

Tradition: One graduate wore cut-off jeans, but not in the normal way. He had pantlegs visible beneath his gown, but when he raised his arms in victory as his name was announced, it was clear he had nothing but purple briefs on above the knee. It’s a prank that's been seen at Memorial Stadium before, at least as far back as 1988.

What’s next: Principal Sam Witt says the “remarkable” Class of 2009 is heading to college in droves. Roughly 45 percent of the graduates will follow the example of the valedictorian and pursue higher education. Lazar will be studying neuroscience at Bucknell.