North Queens graduates ready to make their mark in the world

With stars on the back wall and graduates dressed in black and yellow gowns, the ceremony began with “Time of Your Life” played acoustically on the guitar as the 2008 North Queens Rural High School grads entered the room.

NQRHS Principal, David O’Quinn dubbed this year’s class as well mannered and respectful at the June 26 graduation ceremony.

Guest Speaker Julie Ramey told the story of how she came up with her speech.

This is the group of students Ramey taught on her first day of teaching. “I hope they grow up to be contributing members of society and become good citizens,” she said.

She gave them one final assignment, which they have the rest of their lives to complete. “To go into this world and make your mark,” she began and to trust in themselves, appreciate community and make the best out of their lives, were her key points.

The evening continued with Mariah Fisher and Maria Wamboldt recapping the years and predicting the future of each student.

Some were headlining in Vegas, becoming CEO’s, NBA stars, a few were in foreign countries and one would end up working on the NBC television show, Extreme Makeover, to name a few.

This year’s valedictorian was Jennie Uhlman. “Every single one of us has grown into our own person,” she began and they all have something to offer the world.

She knows there will be construction zones and collisions along the way after they leave high school, but said in the end it will be worth it.

She ended her speech with a quote from Tom Cochrane, “Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long.”