By Amy Bounds
Camera Staff Writer

Oumou Diacko barely spoke English and had few friends when she came to Boulder High School four years ago from Senegal.

Saturday, she greeted the school's graduating class in four languages before thanking her teachers and "so many friends of so many races" for making Boulder High "like home to me."

"All I can say is, we're finally free," she said.

Diacko was among about 1,500 Boulder Valley and 700 St. Vrain Valley high school seniors who donned caps and gowns for their graduation ceremonies Saturday.

Boulder, Broomfield, Centaurus, Fairview, Monarch, Nederland and Arapahoe Ridge high schools held commencements for the Boulder Valley School District's Class of 2002.

In the St. Vrain Valley School District, students from Erie, Frederick, Longmont, Lyons, Niwot and Skyline high schools received their diplomas.

Boulder High School's graduation ceremony included six student speakers who were by turns silly, somber and elated as they looked toward the future. The speakers were chosen by a student vote.

"It's been a tough year," said graduate Stephan van der Mersch. On top of personal challenges, he said, the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 "robbed us of any certainty of the future."

Plus, he said, "the vicious and shocking actions of a few forced us to face the public's misguided criticism." He apparently was alluding to a group of seniors who bullied underclassmen.

Fellow graduate Matthew Vorzimer wrote a musical piece called "Iridescent Bloom" that was performed by the school's wind ensemble for a friend who had died.

"What really matters are the people we exist with every day," Vorzimer said.

Graduates from both Fairview and Monarch accepted their diplomas at the University of Colorado's Coors Events Center. The Monarch ceremony marked a milestone for the 4-year-old school, where the 2002 seniors were the first class to attend the school for four years.

Monarch, in Louisville, also has the distinction of graduating one of the state's two presidential scholars, valedictorian Aron Kirschner.

Several Centaurus High School seniors stood out in a sea of blue and red robes because of the decorations on their mortarboards, including an American flag, action figures and even a fake head.

The Centaurus graduates heard welcoming addresses from both Lafayette Mayor Dale Avery and Assistant Principal Jack Brown. School board President Bill de la Cruz told the graduates that "it's about what you do with the things that you have that make you what you are."

Student speakers talked about the teachers who made a difference, the importance of not taking life for granted and their dreams for the future.

"Life is not a successful climb unless you take time to enjoy the journey," said Centaurus valedictorian Josh Baker.

A roar came from the packed stands of Warrior Stadium as the senior moved their tassels, freed white pigeons fluttered skyward and the newly-minted graduates rushed onto the field to fling their hats in the air.

While 349 Longmont High School graduates looked toward their future Saturday, six World War II veterans took the opportunity to look back and receive their diplomas.

Veterans statewide became high school graduates this year through Operation Recognition, a program that grants high school diplomas to those who served in World War II but didn't finish high school before they went to war.

Longmont High graduate Michael Pappas, who gave the senior address, wished the class luck.

"You've been educated," he said. "Think of it as your ticket to change the world."

Some of the Longmont graduates said they would miss high school but were definitely glad it's over.

"It feels great to finally be out of high school," graduate Jennifer Vermette said. She said she plans on taking some classes at Front Range Community College before attending the University of Colorado.

At Broomfield High School, a poor set of amplifiers made it difficult for the crowd of 4,000 to hear commencement speeches, but it never lost its enthusiasm.

In her welcome address, Broomfield graduate Joleen Mossoni pondered what the last 13 years of school has meant. She said she came to the conclusion that she doesn't know and probably won't figure it out for another 20 years.

"All I do know is that we came out on top — or at least second," Mossoni said, referring to the second place the boys' and girls' basketball teams took at state championships this year.

Mossoni said school so far has been "day care," and now, "the real school of life begins."

Broomfield valedictorian Heather DePriest recalled both the 1999 Columbine High School shootings and the attacks on Sept. 11 as events that changed the lives of the graduates.

"We have learned and grown together as Americans, and as a country and school have persevered," DePriest said.

Camera Staff Writers Jena Bulger Maria Sanchez-Traynor contributed to this report. Contact Amy Bounds at boundsa@thedailycamera.com or (303) 473-1341.

June 2, 2002

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