Schools
Slideshow: Clayton Valley Seniors Say Goodbye to High School
The Clayton Valley High graduating class listened to inspiring speeches before receiving their diplomas.
Thousands gathered at the Sleep Train Pavillion Tuesday night to congratulate and support the Clayton Valley High Class of 2011 as they received their diplomas.
The atmosphere was festive, with the graduating seniors hitting dozens of beach balls between the speeches.
Three Clayton Valley seniors spoke to their class — Victoria Kobold, Cassady Clifton and J.P. De Souza — and their message was to remember their high school years but to use what they have learned to thrive as adults.
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Kobold, the senior class president headed to San Diego State to play softball, told her fellow graduates to go out and attack life.
"There are the people that get things done. There are the people that watch things happen and there are the people that wonder what just happened," Kobold said. "Let's be the people that get things done."
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Clifton talked about the determination to fight through the tough times that lie ahead and the responsibility of adulthood.
"Graduating is no longer a dream for us, it is our reality," Clifton said. "We ask our families to continue to support us because together we can truly make things happen."
De Souza reminisced in his witty speech, going over some of the funnier moments over the last four years and told his classmates to push on in the future.
"We must remember to set high goals for ourselves and to continue to work for our dreams," De Souza said.
It was final graduation ceremony for retiring principal Gary Swanson and he kept his speech to the Class of 2011 short but sweet.
"Congratulations, you made it," Swanson said. "Now soar like an Eagle."
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