Features

Pomp and Circumstance

A look at the graduating class of 2010

By: Kate Seegraves

By Kate Seegraves

June is a happy month indeed for the graduating class of 2010.

By now, the seniors at Pickerington High School Central and Pickerington High School North have tossed their mortarboard caps into the air, hugged their loved ones and devoted their summers to work or college preparation. But it’s never too late to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and study. To Pickerington Local School District’s most recent grads, Pickerington Magazine says congratulations, and presents this special “Senior Class At a Glance” story applauding the fruits of your labor.

Pickerington High School Central’s Alma Mater

Oh, lying in Ohio’s hills

Is our fair Alma Mater.

Bounded by her rocks and rills

Oh, Pickerington is her name.

Hail to her and sing to her

Our alma mater true

As our hearts with memories fill

All hail the purple and the white.

Pickerington High School Central: Fast Senior Facts

Source: Judy Brunner, guidance counselor

- Central’s graduating class consists of 366 seniors.

- The top three colleges North’s seniors attend after high school are The Ohio State University, Ohio University and Columbus State Community College.

- Collectively, these students were offered $4.2 million in scholarships as of mid-May.

- Six students have committed to military service after graduation: James Poole (United States Army); Matthew Sobczyk, Patrick Seaman, Sean Hogan and Ryan Hahn (Marines); and Julia Taufaasau (Navy).

- Approximately 72 percent of Central’s graduating seniors plan to attend a four-year college. Fifteen percent plan to attend a two-year college.

- Three graduating students spoke at the school’s commencement ceremony June 5 at World Harvest Church (4595 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester). Seniors Wetlyne Wettee, Jacob Dittoe and Stacy Shelts tried out for the opportunity to speak during the event and wrote their own speeches.

Pickerington High School Central Top Ten from the Class of 2010

Usama Awan, Jennifer Hewitt, Harika Kantamneni, Zachary Kristoff, Haley Nieman, Christopher Partlow, Nicholas Rush, Megan Sharrett, Jackson Thomas and Leah Wharton.

Pickerington High School North’s Alma Mater

Oh, lying in Ohio hills

Is our fair alma mater

Bounded by her rocks and rills

Oh, Pickerington is her name

Hail to her and sing to her

Our alma meter true

As our hearts with memories fill

All hail the purple and the black.

Pickerington High School North: Fast Senior Facts

Source: Linda Kelly, director of school counseling

- North’s graduating class consists of 405 seniors.

- The top three colleges North’s seniors attend after high school are The Ohio State University, Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati.

- Collectively, these seniors were offered approximately $8.7 million in scholarships as of mid-May.

- Five students have committed to military service after graduation.

- Approximately 76 percent of North’s graduating seniors plan to attend a four-year college. Thirteen p ercent plan to attend a two-year college.

- Two graduating students spoke at the school’s commencement ceremony June 5 at World Harvest Church (4595 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester). Seniors Jade Carpenter and Caroline Johnson t ried out for the opportunity to speak during the event and wrote their own speeches. Alternate was John Gardocki.

Pickerington High School North Top Ten from the Class of 2010

Brian Auman, Gregory James Black, Sruti Brahmandam, Kathryn Nicole Gardocki, Brian Douglas Good, Caitlin Frances Hughes, Michael Steven Mulroy, Radhika Pradip Tampi, Austin James Way and Joshua Simon Yen.

Student Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Colleges and universities from around the country found multiple talented student athletes from Pickerington to fill their rosters during the 2010-2011 school year. The following seniors signed letters of intent in May to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level:

Student	School	Sport	College
Wes Bradford Zach Clouse Jasmine Cooper Shayne Denihan Nick Eley Abigail Fannin Ryan Hahn Michele Hare Bill Hinterschied Nick Hissrich Kelsi Klein Ryan Klipa Nadja Kolliesuah Josh Kristoff Jarred Miller Malcolm Pannell Billy Ross Keegan Ross Audrey Sanders William Tatum Wuan Tatum Drew Watson Rachel Vacek	PHSC PHSC PHSC PHSC PHSC PHSN PHSC PHSN PHSC PHSN PHSC PHSC PHSN PHSC PHSC PHSC PHSN PHSN PHSN PHSC PHSC PHSC PHSN	Football Football Basketball Football Soccer Soccer Football Basketball Football Cross Country Girls Tennis Lacrosse Soccer Football Football Football Swimming Soccer Volleyball Football Football Lacrosse Swimming	Capital University Ohio Northern University University of Vermont Plymouth State University Capital University Tennessee Wesleyan College Otterbein College Ursuline College Muskingum College Ohio University Ohio Dominican University Otterbein College Mercer University Ohio University Concord University Kent State University U.S. Air Force Academy Bowling Green State University Campbellsville University University of Minnesota Undecided Otterbein College University of Cumberlands

BREAKOUT

Hailey Neiman, a senior at Pickerington Central, and Stephen Poyer, a senior at Pickerington North, each received at $2,500 Community Service Scholarship from the Violet Township Women’s League. The presentations were made at the league’s annual luncheon and style show in the spring. Both students plan to pursue degrees in engineering.

Graduation Trivia

- High school graduates receive an average of 17.5 graduation cards to commemorate their big day.

- In the old days, diplomas were handwritten on sheepskin, rolled up and tied with ribbons.

- The traditional processional for graduation is called Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches and is specifically March No. 1 in D. The march was originally orchestrated by Sir Edward Elgar.

- The style of gown worn for graduation, then called a houpland, was originally popular during the 13^th century in Europe. At that time, universities spread and the fashion stuck to represent academia.

- The term valedictorian originates from the Latin phrase vale dicere, or “to say farewell.”

- Some say the tradition of throwing caps in the air began in 1912 when a class of students at the United States Naval Academy threw their midshipman’s hats in the air because they’d get to wear officer’s hats instead of the old caps

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Sarah Morrow

Pickerington native Sarah Morrow and the American all Stars performing at the concert at the "Café de la Danse" (Paris)