CR grads say goodbye high school, hello world

    The last class to say “O,” the 2009 graduates of Caesar Rodney High School enjoyed clear skies and sunny weather May 30 when the 470 students walked across the stage and received their diplomas.

    When asked what makes their class unique, the class officers pointed out a few things. Treasurer Siobain McIlvain said they are the state champions in football, while Vice President Shakira Walker stressed that they were the most fun class. Secretary Heather Lewis said their class developed a special bond with their teachers.

    “I think the teachers are really going to miss us,” she said.

    Valedictorian Christopher Hartung compared his fellow graduates to Harry Potter, where just like the young wizard they had no idea what to expect when arriving at high school, but still made friends and found their way, even if it was without the help of a sorting hat.

    Like Harry’s famous creator J.K. Rowling, who went from rags to riches, he said there’s no limit to what they can do.

    “It doesn’t matter where we come from or how we got there, we all have potential,” Hartung said.

    Salutatorian Cameron Olezene made his classmates laugh when he said that when he asked what he should say, the two pieces of advice were “Don’t take too long” and “Don’t use too many big words.”

    Whether it was AP calculus — or in his case driver’s education — they met their biggest challenges, he said.

    “Yet, through all the hard work, it’s been an amazing experience, hanging out with friends and getting all those girls — or was that just me?” Olezene said to more laughter.

    He described his recent experience at Six Flags, where he attempted to overcome his fear of roller coasters even though he said he didn’t want to die before graduation. Even though, Olezene said his friends found his scream hilarious.

    “So that was a life lesson,” he said. “No matter how intimidating something looks, always face your fears, even if you scream like you’re going to die.”

    Col. Thomas F. MacLeish, superintendent of the Delaware State Police and father to one of the graduates, also brought some levity to the ceremony when he said he received a phone message three weeks before graduation from the high school. Luckily, his nervousness was for nothing, his son Ryan was still graduating; they just needed a graduation speaker.

    “You will face the challenges that are coming, some you will conquer and some may temporarily set you back,” he said. “No matter what the outcome, you will be better, stronger and smarter with each and every challenge you face.”

    MacLeish also gave a motto of the state police “service before self” for them to live by, which is a commitment he said he’s already seen from them.

    Caesar Rodney High School Principal Elvina Knight later echoed a similar sentiment when she said the class of 2009 is ready to take advantage of all life has to offer.

    “Your life is a remarkable occasion,” she said. “I know you will rise to it.”

Email Jayne Gest at jayne.gest@doverpost.com

Caesar Rodney Class of 2009

    Timothy Wayne Abel, Skyler Baree Adams, Wayne Adkins Jr., Kristianna J. Ah Sam, Usamah F. Ahmed, Steven Amos Aiken, Deidre Morgan Aldridge, Takia Renaye Aldridge, Kurt Andrew Allan, Shane Allan, Tatiani Allegra, Kristen Nicole Allen, Michael Allen, Rachelle Marie Allen, Sharis Maxie Allen, Joshua Ryan Allison, Samantha Joelle Angle, Caitlyn Theresa Angstadt, Kristin Baalmann, Joseph Robert Babuca, Roselyn Bain, Toi J. Bain, Marvin Dale Banaag, Virmarie Joan P. Banaag, Steven Banack, Hannah Elizabeth Banez, Tyler Matthew Banez, Jessica Lynn Barclay, Kaitlyn Flora Barkley*, Branden Joseph Barlow, Lauren Ashley Barrett*, Haley Hudson Bates, Tyler Nicholas Baumgartner, Cortney Genay Baynard, Dupre A. Beasley-Sutton, Amanda Grace Behrens, Tyshawn Lamar Bell, Perry Bendelewski, Christina Danielle Benn, Christina M. Bennett, James V. Bennett II, Mark D. Bennett, Tiffany M. Bennett, Delilah Shonte Berkley, Telicia R. Berry, Lindsey Marie Bethard*, Roxanne Mae Betts, Gerard Joseph Bhagwatsingh Jr., Megan Jean Bilbrough, Adam Nathaniel Bilow, Sara Beth Black*, Tyera Latrece Blackwell, Scott Christopher Blaha*, Brittney N. Blanchfield, Kyree J. Blanford, Cierra Shonta Bolden, Kailin Bolger, Tynisa Monique Bordley, Skye Suzan Boris, Shameck D. Boucher, Andrew Paul Bouillon, Shunaira Princess Bowers, Henry Branch, Paige Mykal Branch, James Kenji Bratcher, Danielle Alyse Breitkreitz, Clyde Broderick*, Keyondra Denise Brooks, Joel Scott Brosius, Alan M. Bufala, William A. Buff, Sterling Bumgardner, Corleone Denzel Burgess, Ryan M. Burman, Tiontae R. Burton, Matthew C. Butcher

    Robert Caicedo, Kyle M. Calder, Lauren Cristine Campagnini, Jonathan Cambry Jr., Brittinie Donyale Campbell, Keith Campbell Jr., Virginia R. Camper, Adam Cardenas, Michael L. Carey, Rochelle Carrion, Adam R. Carroll, Bernard Devon Carter, Kerstan A. Chadwick*, Tara J. Chandonnet, Emily L. Chick*, Tasnim A. Choudhury, Antoine Jamar Christopher, Johnathan E. Christopher, Shawn P. Clark, Melissa Ann Clayberg, David Clendaniel II*, Rebecca A. Cofield*, Cody Joseph Cogar, Sarah Lynn Conant*, Kyle Matthew Condon*, Blake Anthony Conner, Xavier Kent Conner, Gregory David Cook Jr., Chaise Laird Cooper, Charles Jordan Cooper, Christopher N. Cooper, Erin Lee Cox*, James Alfred Creed Jr., Armetra Lynnete Cross, Montana Victoria Crowder, Bethany Marie Crowley, Michelle Denice d’Spirit, James Austin Daniels, Guilaine E. Danjoint, Brianna Maria Darling, Rebecca Ann Daufenbach*, Christopher James Davis, Courtney Paige Davis, Eboni Nicole Davis, Kadeem Samuel Isaac DeAllie, Bradley Robert Dean, Michael Vincent DeGeorge, Peter Lorenz DeMarreau, Courtney M. DeWitt, Glenn B. DeWitt, Jeffery Dobbins, Amanda Dorton, Matthew Alan Dotson, Tara Lynn Druding, Alyssa L. Dunn, Heather Nicole Earley, Amanda Ebert, Carina A. Efinger, William Ehli, Amanda Christine Ehringer, Sarah F. Eklund, George Kyle Embert, Adam D. Entenman, Daniel J. Erickson, Nicholas J. Errera, Samantha C. Exter

    Corbin M. Farrow, Joshua David Fazzini*, Timothy Fitzgerald, Wendell D. Flamer Jr., Joyce N. Fondong, Taylor Frampton, Kayla Freeman, Naheesha Marie Freeman, Garrett Fullerton*, Mitchell Fullerton*, Katie Galgano*, Frederick Gambrel, Elyse Marcella Gardner*, Natasha Olivia Rene Gaston*, Shanelle Marie Gifford, Erich D. Gillespie Jr.*, Andrew Ellis Gillis, Tina Louise Gillock*, Katherine Amber Goerger*, Mary Elizabeth Goldsmith*, Milanie I. Gonzalez Lluveras, Sheraine T. Gordon, David P. Gorski*, Sara A. Grau*, Danielle Marie Gray, Paige Josephine Green, Shelby Louise Greentaner*, Daniel P. Guidice*, Xianelly Guzman, Katherine Susan Haber, Javon Deshawn Hall, Khalil A. Hallman, Juliana Hansley, Shantel K. Harden, Duron D. Harmon, Heather Marie Harmon, Kadeem Quandre Harris, Roy O’Neal Harris Jr., Stephen L. Harris, Jared Harrison, Mollie L. Harrison, Alana N. Hart, Michelle J. Hart, Christopher W. Hartung*, Marshall Lee Hawkins*, Erin Lin Hays, Berneda C. Hayward, Audriana L. Healey, Jordan Ashlie Hemphill, Paul L. Henry, Dylan James Hensley*, Aaron Scott Hickman, Jeffone Lee Hill, LeBon Hobayan*, John Hobbs, Molly Shane Holcombe*, Cheslea Elizabeth Holland, Taleehah Holland, Jensine Joy Hollister*, Tyler Martin Holloway*, Alexander John Homer*, Tamika Emily Hope*, Wesley James Horan, Bryan Clark Horton, Eric Thomas Howdershelt, Tyler Hroncich, Marques James Huffman, Amari Sheree Hughes, Sandra R. Hull, Tony Huynh, Briana Caitlyn Hyler, Horace Lee Jackson III, Roberta Lynn Jackson, Syntii Jackson, Eric Jacobs, Kellie Ann Jameson, Brittni Rae Janess, Donovan W. Janus, Jonathan Kelly Jaywork, Alexis Simone Jean, Jessica Jean, Tanisha Chaletta Jean, Brandon A. Johnson, Iesha M. Johnson, Shana A. Johnson, Jordan Malik Jones

    Justin Kaczalek, Joshua D. Kaiser*, Tara A. Kay*, Justin N. Keating, Jonathan B. Keaton, Brandon Jarred Keels, Kade E. Keily, Amber Lynne Kelley*, Jameric T. Kelly, Amanda R. Kennedy*, Nicholas J. Kerver, Ashley Rae Killen*, Kyle William King, Pamela J. Kitchen, Ashley Klein, Matthew Dean Klingensmith, Hunter M. Knight, Jarred R. Knorr, Rebecca Kokoszka, Emily Anne Kolakowski*, Eric A. Kovitz, Kimberly Paige Kramer, Lena Krenz, Michael A. Kressman, Amber Krouse, Joshua E. Krumm, Charlotte Rae Layte, Jonathan M. Leczner, Jong Tae Lee*, Steven Allen LeMarble, Heather Christine Lewis*, Matthew Issac Lewis, Aaron D. Liddle, Glenn G. Lightcap, Eric Line*, Lindsay Anne Little, Tashona Louise Little, Lawrence B. Livingston Jr., Philip L. Livingston*, Eric Long, Danny William Lorea, Brian Andrew Lucykanish, Simone A. O. Lundy*, Ryan Michael MacLeish, Ashley Lauren Majewski, Dallas Leigh Marcum, Edward Marsch, Brittany Jordan Martin, Keenan Hakeem Matthews, Emily Mayan, Jake Daniel Mayan, Grallian McBride II, Kyle Paul McCalister, Patrick B. McCleary, Randy Thomas McClure, Olivia L. McCove, Tashyra Jamiya Monet McCray, Marquis Jamaal McCulley, Ariel Faith McFall*, Davina Angela Rosha McGill*, Siobain Caitlyn McIlvain*, Kenney Sho McLeland, Chad A. McParlin, Sidnie Lee Medler, Symone Janeese Merritt, Stephanie Lynn Metheny, Bryan Lee Mikula, Melinda Mis, William G. Molina, Michael Edward Montefusco, Evelyn Tina Moore, Matthew A. Moore, Richard Allen Morris, Jillian Paige Mosley, Denzel D. Murray, Estefania Nicole Perez Myers, Kristian L. Neal*, Anh Nguyen*, Kemberly Michelle Nguyen, Amanda Renee Niblett*, Suzanne Nichols, Cody Allen Nicolai, Shalaya Terrill Nieves, Kathryn Nolan

    Cameron Spencer Olezene*, Kwadwo Ampofo Opoku-Debrah, Ashley Renee Osborn, Ayomide Adeola Osunkoya*, Kenneth Owens, Alexander Michael Paladino, Muriel Maiel Coleen Laya Palanca*, Leah Palmer, Shree V. Patel, Tejashkumar M. Patel, Marissa Ann Pennington*, Joshua Peppers, Reynaldo Perez, Andre Philippe, James Jordan Phillippi, Dale R. Poinsett, Mandy Pollard, Camille R. Poore, Keona Lee Porter, Joshua Michael Potter, Brea Christine Price, David A. Price, Malcolm D. Price, Carlette Latrice Primm, Charlette Jasmine Primm, Antonio James Prouse, Amanda Mary Purcell*, Deangelo Marcos Purnell, Robert M. Puryear Jr., Jennifer Rae Pusak, Marcus F. Pyne, Jacob Lee Rankin, Shante Julissa Reaux, Joshua Jordan Reid-Dixon, Amanda Ruth Reinhart, Raul Reyna-Galindo Jr., Elizabeth Ann Rigby, Jonathan Wade Rigby, Devon Ray Ripley, Kelci Roberts, Sarah Ann Robey, Amy Nichole Robinson, Brandie Renee Robinson, Darius S. Robinson, Virginia Elizabeth Rodan, Brooke Rogers, Trent Rommel*, Christina Marie Rossi*, Kimberly Rowley, Caitlin Minagarie Russell, Rebecca Ann Rutherford, Kyle Thomas Rutkowski, Dante R. Sanders, Samuel L. Sanders, Christina Elizabeth Sanderson, Amanda Veronica Sandoval, John Andrew Sandy, Ben J. Sanon, Olivia Ashley Schachte*, Aaron Michael Schmid, Stephanie Lauren Schmidt*, Hayley Lee-Ann Schneider, Robert Anthony Schroeder, Molly Christine Schwartz, John Francis Sclesky, Dominique Denae Scott*, Craig Wayne Seeney, Leeann R. Seiwell, Brody Dylan Sergent, Casey James Sergent, Christopher Allen Serrano, Raifa Shariff, Rebecca Lynn Sheahan*, Diana Marie Shelor*, Ryan Michael Shlan, Storm Andrew Shoemaker, Kylie Ann Shuba, Beth Christine Simpson, Joseph Henry Simpson, Megan Amanda Slacum, Maxwell Alexander Slover, Keith Francis Smeltzer, Brittany Monique Smith, Brittany Ann Smith, Christopher Craig Smith, Jasmine Renay Smith, Jodian Smith, Nicholas Smith*, Rachel Aleece Smith, Taylor L. Smith*, Jessica Ann Stafford, David Wayne Staley Jr., Melanie Deandra Stalworth, Caitlin Sara Stein*, Blair William Stoakley*, Megan Lynn Stoffa, Yasmen D. Stokes, Kenneth Alan Strain, Alexandra Lauren Swetland, Jessie Lee Sykes III

    Matthew A. Tappan, Teahne T. Tapscott, Anthony P. Taylor II, Austin G. Taylor, Michael Anthony Thomas Jr., Holly Nicole Thompson*, Kirstyn M. Threlfall, Le Ron T. Thurston, Wayne Everett Tiller Jr., LaCedes Shardae Todd, J’Keyah Irene Tolson, Uriel P. Torres**, Nicholas W. Traegler*, Wesley W. Traute, Patrick Trently, Patrick Antonio Tribett, Teddy Dewayne Tyson Jr., Clark Charles Urban III, Courtney Pearl Usher, Shelby Lynne Frances Valentine, Cameron Wade Varnado*, Millard Adam Vaughn, Eric Voshell, Joseph R. Voshell, Anthony M. Wagner, Shakira A. Walker, Megan A. Walton*, Kevin M. Ward*, Michael D. Watson*, Morgan L. Watts, Kevin Scott White, Michael Paul Willey, Alexander Payton Williams*, Ashley Danae Williams, Brennon K. Williams, VaSean A. Williams, Andrew Scott Wilson*, Benjamin H. Wilson, Damon D. Wilson, Najie Malik Wilson, Vincent C. Wilson, Skyler Taylor L. Winder, Shannon Janet Winer, Shelby T. Wingo, Jr., Stacy Nicole Winslow, Hilary Nicole Wise, Princessretta Wise, Schuyler J. Wisniewski, Winter Wong, Kiesha M. Woolford, Matthew Wright III, Christian M. Wydeven, Chelsea Brittany Wyllie, Ryan F. Young and Warren Ziegler*.

    * Indicates Honor Society member
    ** Posthumously