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closeMonday, Jun. 01, 2009
Prosser grads take leap into adulthood
By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer
PROSSER -- Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at Art Fiker Stadium under a beating Sunday afternoon sun to watch about 160 Prosser High School graduates take a defining step into adulthood.
With dried, broken sunflower seeds underfoot, the crowd applauded the young men and women as the white- and-red-gowned graduates wound their way down Paterson Road and onto the football field.
Prosser High's 114th recognized graduating class was greeted by the traditional Pomp and Circumstance, which was followed by The Star-Spangled Banner, performed by senior Adrienne Bousquet.
The day ended with a massive Silly String battle between students before friends and family descended onto the football field.
Before the Silly String flew, Senior Sonia Madrigal was one of the first to address her fellow graduates and the stadium of fans.
"We, the class of 2009, are proud to stand in front of you," she told the audience.
Madrigal went on to speak of the transition from student to adult.
"We hope that as we walk from this stadium, we are no longer young children, but young adults," she said.
Madrigal's speech was followed by the school's dual valedictorians: Heather Fredericks and Maria Garcia, Prosser High School's first Hispanic valedictorian.
Fredericks, speaking first, told the senior class and the audience to ignore labels, be themselves and follow their dreams.
"Focus your life on what really stirs you up inside," she said. "This is your moment. Decide what means the most to you and make the most of it."
Garcia followed in the same vein, touching on her ethnicity, saying it was less of an obstacle in reaching her success than a motivating factor.
"Ethnicity is not a barrier," she said.
The pair was followed by Principal Kevin Lusk, who complimented the students and the Prosser community, which he said values education and laid the groundwork the seniors walked on to reach graduation.
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