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Class of 2008 will remember unique graduation
The graduation of the Auburn High School Class of 2008 was unique in many ways including a storm delay.
The class had 90 members, one of the largest ever because of the addition of Divernon. The class also had two Valedictorians
and two Salutatorians and for the first time, graduation was held off campus at the UIS auditorium in Springfield.
And to add to the memories, the graduation was 1 1/2 hours late in starting because of the threat of a tornado and violent
storms.
Graduation was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with guests arriving as early as 6 p.m. Because of the delay, it did not begin until
about 8:30 finishing up about 9:35.
"We estimated about 1,400 people attended," said principal Darren Root "and by the time we were able to start I'm sure a lot of
people knew each other very well. We were cool and comfortable," added Root. "We were taken care of real well by the
auditorium people on a lower level of the building."
The Auburn Valedictorian is Michael Howard, son of Jobe and Ruby Howard and the Divernon Valedictorian is Benjamin Taylor,
son of Dorse and Linda Taylor.
The Salutatorian from Auburn is Carie Hart, daughter of Burt Hart and Anne Hart and the Divernon Salutatorian is Lucy Parker,
daughter of Louis and Teri Parker.
Because the Auburn and Divernon high schools used different grading systems, the school board approved having two
Valedictorians and Salutatorian for the first two years of the merger. Thus all freshmen and sophomores this year will be on the
Auburn system, a 4.0 GPA. Divernon had been using a 5.0 weighted system.
The contract to use UIS is on a year to year basis but it is planned to use it next year. Two of the main reasons for the switch
were seating because of the larger classes and air-conditioning. This year, Auburn graduated 90 seniors. The incoming
freshman class numbers 124.
Because of the concern about time the program was altered to have the seniors get their diplomas first and the bulk of the
program, which included scholarships and other awards, followed.
Recognized were the senior members of the National Honor Society who numbered 19, Lauren Armstead, Trenton Bennett,
Caleb Bourne, Bobbie Britz, Halle Chambers, Jett Dennis, Ashley Dixon, Mackenzie Dobson, Carie Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse
Kamees, Morgan Ladage, Aubrey Lee, Ashley Masters, Lucy Parker, Aleesha Pruitt, Jorden Seifert, Whitney Stuva and Benjamin
Taylor.
Twenty-two members were cited for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent on a 5.0 weighted scale
over eight semesters of coursework.
They included Lauren Armstead, Trenton Bennett, Caleb Bourne, Halle Chambers, Ashley Dixon, Mackenzie Dobson, Carie
Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse Kamees, Morgan Ladage, Aubrey Lee, Ashley Masters, Aleesha Pruitt, Jorden Seifert, Whitney
Stuva, Carl White, Lyndsey Becker, Bobbie Britz, Jett Dennis, Lucy Parker, Benjamin Taylor and Ian Tinsley.
The classes' five State Scholars were recognized, Carie Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse Kamees, Jorden Seifert and Benjamin
Taylor.
Winner of the DAR Award was Lauren Armstead with Trenton Bennett winning the SAR Award.
Tri-M, an international music honor society, an Auburn first year program, recognized five honorees in Lucy Parker, Diantha
Harper, Jorden Seifert, Olivia Cramblit and Phoebe Wilson.
In presenting the class, Root said that 47 plan to attend a two year college, 29 will attend a four-year school, one plans a
technical career, four will enter the work force, two are undecided and two, Tommy Dugger and Keithen Gardner, both receiving a
loud round of applause, will enter the military.
Officers for the class were: president, Lauren Armstead; vice-president, Whitney Stuva,; secretary, Jacob Cumming; treasurer,
Halle Chambers.
The graduation of the Auburn High School Class of 2008 was unique in many ways including a storm delay.
The class had 90 members, one of the largest ever because of the addition of Divernon. The class also had two Valedictorians
and two Salutatorians and for the first time, graduation was held off campus at the UIS auditorium in Springfield.
And to add to the memories, the graduation was 1 1/2 hours late in starting because of the threat of a tornado and violent
storms.
Graduation was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with guests arriving as early as 6 p.m. Because of the delay, it did not begin until
about 8:30 finishing up about 9:35.
"We estimated about 1,400 people attended," said principal Darren Root "and by the time we were able to start I'm sure a lot of
people knew each other very well. We were cool and comfortable," added Root. "We were taken care of real well by the
auditorium people on a lower level of the building."
The Auburn Valedictorian is Michael Howard, son of Jobe and Ruby Howard and the Divernon Valedictorian is Benjamin Taylor,
son of Dorse and Linda Taylor.
The Salutatorian from Auburn is Carie Hart, daughter of Burt Hart and Anne Hart and the Divernon Salutatorian is Lucy Parker,
daughter of Louis and Teri Parker.
Because the Auburn and Divernon high schools used different grading systems, the school board approved having two
Valedictorians and Salutatorian for the first two years of the merger. Thus all freshmen and sophomores this year will be on the
Auburn system, a 4.0 GPA. Divernon had been using a 5.0 weighted system.
The contract to use UIS is on a year to year basis but it is planned to use it next year. Two of the main reasons for the switch
were seating because of the larger classes and air-conditioning. This year, Auburn graduated 90 seniors. The incoming
freshman class numbers 124.
Because of the concern about time the program was altered to have the seniors get their diplomas first and the bulk of the
program, which included scholarships and other awards, followed.
Recognized were the senior members of the National Honor Society who numbered 19, Lauren Armstead, Trenton Bennett,
Caleb Bourne, Bobbie Britz, Halle Chambers, Jett Dennis, Ashley Dixon, Mackenzie Dobson, Carie Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse
Kamees, Morgan Ladage, Aubrey Lee, Ashley Masters, Lucy Parker, Aleesha Pruitt, Jorden Seifert, Whitney Stuva and Benjamin
Taylor.
Twenty-two members were cited for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent on a 5.0 weighted scale
over eight semesters of coursework.
They included Lauren Armstead, Trenton Bennett, Caleb Bourne, Halle Chambers, Ashley Dixon, Mackenzie Dobson, Carie
Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse Kamees, Morgan Ladage, Aubrey Lee, Ashley Masters, Aleesha Pruitt, Jorden Seifert, Whitney
Stuva, Carl White, Lyndsey Becker, Bobbie Britz, Jett Dennis, Lucy Parker, Benjamin Taylor and Ian Tinsley.
The classes' five State Scholars were recognized, Carie Hart, Michael Howard, Jesse Kamees, Jorden Seifert and Benjamin
Taylor.
Winner of the DAR Award was Lauren Armstead with Trenton Bennett winning the SAR Award.
Tri-M, an international music honor society, an Auburn first year program, recognized five honorees in Lucy Parker, Diantha
Harper, Jorden Seifert, Olivia Cramblit and Phoebe Wilson.
In presenting the class, Root said that 47 plan to attend a two year college, 29 will attend a four-year school, one plans a
technical career, four will enter the work force, two are undecided and two, Tommy Dugger and Keithen Gardner, both receiving a
loud round of applause, will enter the military.
Officers for the class were: president, Lauren Armstead; vice-president, Whitney Stuva,; secretary, Jacob Cumming; treasurer,
Halle Chambers.
Issue Date: June 5, 2008
