Colony hands out 195 diplomas

May 25, 2007

By Amie Pappas

Frontiersman

WASILLA - In a stream of green, the Colony High School class of 2007 took over the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

The CHS drumline started the class promenade off with a bang. Graduates marched around the second-floor track, down to the front of the stage, set up over the covered hockey rink.

In all, 195 seniors happily pocketed diplomas and posed for pictures.

Before and after the ceremony, a photo slideshow played above the stage with candid, sometimes funny snapshots of students.

&#8220I am so happy.” said senior Caitlyn Olson about graduating. &#8220It feels so good. God got me through.”

Olson and her friend, class officer Ardrienna Everett, said they were elated about going to the University of Alaska in the fall. They also had more immediate plans.

&#8220We're going dancing.” Everett laughed.

Senior Becca Menzia sang a soprano solo of the national anthem to appreciative applause.

&#8220It's our turn” was the title of the first speech given by graduate Blake Kinsey.

&#8220No matter what life throws at you, you've got to be ready to catch it in stride and throw it right back.” Kinsey said.

Then the floor was given to the senior choir, which sang the Broadway song &#8220For Good.”

Graduate Samuel Deedy stood to address the class with a reminiscent trip: as freshmen, &#8220The year we thought we were going to be hazed and all that;” as sophomores, &#8220All adults we knew were in great fear, for now we could drive by ourselves;” as juniors, &#8220 We tried to branch out and try new things;” and as seniors, &#8220The top of the food chain, finally we arrived, wearing what was probably someone's idea of a practical joke, to receive a piece of paper and graduate.”

Senior Nathan Kowalczk presented a $3,000 check on behalf of student government to Donn Bennice for the Dorothy Saxton Youth Shelter.

&#8220Your job is to find out who you are,” was the advice given to the graduates by keynote speaker Larry Johnson. Don't be afraid to succeed.”

Principal Cyd Duffin said the seniors are an exceptional bunch.

&#8220It's been extraordinary.” Duffin said. &#8220This class has brought in $2.5 million in scholarships to trade schools, junior colleges and universities. They have done so much to contribute to the community and so much to make us proud.”

With the presentation of the class of 2007, &#8220I want to break free” by Queen began to blare from the sound system. The floor was rife with graduates, high fives and hugs.

Contact Amie Pappas at 352-2284 or amie.pappas@frontiersman.com.

Colony High School

Class of 2007

Donald D. Albright, Lauren M. Amundson, Gregory A. Andrews, Jr., Nicholas Michael Armon, Joshua J. Asay, Amber Dawn Aspen, Hanna S. Babayed, William T. Babcock, Andrew Robert Bargelski, William N. Bartholomew, Tony L. Bartley, Kajena R. Baty, Justin M. Beauchamp, Benjamin Michael Beckman Arneson, Robert D. Benkelman, Danielle M. Blair, Christopher B. Bolton, Valerie K. Bonn, Robin L. Brado, Kalli A. Brettrager, Kylie Briske, Brandt Kala_iokona Brockschmidt-Apiki, Jeremy J. Burris, Michael J. Bushey, Amelia Christiana L. Cameron, Jacob Thomas Cantwell, Erin M. Carmichael, Ginger R. Chapman, Michelle Y. Christiansen, Mariah R. Clemenson, Ryan B. Coffman, Christopher Comerate, Nicole Esther Conrad, Chase Alden Cooley, Hannah Danielle Culberson, Brian R. Daniels, Celia Anne Darrough, Samuel F. Deedy, Daniel L. Deel, Aaron J. Delaney, Krystal Nicole Dillow, Cody W. Dishon, Johanna J. Doner, Emily Katherine Dougherty, Erin Leanne Downey, Taylor Pele Kalehua Eli, Katherine Michelle Enloe, Wesley Donald Ensminger, Ardrienna L. Everett, Terri-Jo Marie Ewing, Todd Kenneth Farnsworth, Courtney M. Fenner, Dennielstrider Volare Filkins, Irina Filyuk, Robert J. Fitch, Rian D. Fletcher, Britny Michelle Franks, Chad J. Freer, Kluonie E. Frey, Timm Fruechtenicht, Julia Ann Elizabeth Gardner, Ryan J. Gebhardt, Kaylee A. Gifford, Elizabeth J. Golter, Hollan O. Gravley, Jesi Ann Greenstreet, Natalie Anne Greenstreet, Jessica E. Gulley, Whitney L. Hamann, Mary Anna Harris, Johnathan J. Hartel, Shannon N. Haskins, Caitlin M. Hawthorne, Heidi M. Heimerl, Garrett L. Helf, Heather Lynn Helfrich, Matthew T. Helmericks, Eric J. Hendricks, Miranda Leigh-Rose Henry, Kateland Louise Hilty, Samantha K. Hindin, Contessa L. Hughes, Logan R. Huppert, Steven J. Huston, Stephanie R. Huycke, Jared Michael Ingle, Xavier Taylor Irwin, Veronica B. Iversen Daniela C. Jacome, Chad Richard Jameson, Nutt Jaruvongvanich, Joshua Jeffries, Chebon K. Jimenez, Gerald Daniel Johnson, Jr., Jennifer M. Johnston, Jessica Lynn Jones, Jeremy Lee Jurgensen, Jason T. Keller, Cordeliah Jaclyn Jade Kellie, Icie M. Killian, Blake Ashton Kinsey, Kaija J. Klauder, Sophie Catherine Koehler, Nathan A. Kowalczk, Richard W. Krause, Austen R. Krick, Heather Ann Krieter, Kelly A. Lacher, Scott Andrew Larson, Jordan Mark Laughlin, Quincy N. Leafstedt, Douglas J. Lentz, Joshua B. Lofgreen, Rutchapon Lohaamnuay, Jennifer Michele Maresh, Justin KM Martel, Jonathan L. Martin, Sarah H. Mastroyanis, Natasha Dawn Matson, Nathan G. Maxwell, Rebecca K. Menzia, Malcolm Joshua Ka_imilani Monds, Joshua K. Monson, Kylie Allyce Morgan, Julia Margaret Morris, Amber Hau_oli Morse, Philip A. Munger, Katherine Racheal Munson, Elsezenia Alfhild Nagel, Dominic M. Nickles, Matthew E. Norton, Joseph David Nyberg, Christina J. Olds, Caitlyn Paige Olson, Jaclyn J. Pace, Benjamin J. Packa, Kimberly D. Paden, Craig W. Palmer, Jung Hee Park, George W. Percak-Dennett, Harmony Rose Poulsen, Regis G. Price, Melinda Alaine Quinn, Aislinn D. Rabon, Angelica Christine Remaley, Calvin D. Rich, Carolina Rodriguez Berri, Joshua T. Rogers, Jill Elizabeth Rubin, Susan E. Sage, Tessa Estelle Sandstrom, Jonathan M. Sapp, Kayla R. Scheibl, Nathaniel C. Schmidling, Valerie L. Scudder, Matthew A. Shorts, Deven J. Sims, Erin K. Skvorc, Brooke Smart, Austin R. Smith, Caitlin A. Smith, Marcellus Smith II, Evan James Snyder, Ian Jared Snyder, Amanda M. Spangler, Sydney A. Stoltenberg, Robert E. Straub, Kimberly M. Sullivan, Bonnie J. Sumner, Raenie Lynn Swisher, Scott M. Taylor, Robert Dru Teel, Ryne B. Trout, Mary Susan Turgeon, Daniel R. Turner, Dylan R. Turner, Kellin J. Turner, Ethan Garrett Van Bavel, Ryan J. Van Gorder, Nathan J. Van Nortwick, Evan C. Walker, Andrew S. Warner, Gregory P. Washam, Hayley Lynn Watson, Curtis A. Weber, Patricia E. Westbrook, Nicholas J. Whitmore, Emily B. Whitstine, Anna K. Wierzbicki, Bryant D. Wikle, Bobbi S. Wilson, Roxanne N. Wintz, David A. Woelfel, Samantha L. Younger, Michael L. Zagars