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AHS gears for graduation By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Senioritis approaches, that itch that becomes feverish as the end of the school year arrives. For Ashland High School seniors, the epidemic is full blown as the days to graduation are counted down on chalkboards throughout the school. As anticipation bubbles over, Leadership Class students finish up last-minute graduation planning for this year's ceremony in Lithia Park. According to AHS senior class president Meagan Armstrong, vice president Rachel Tepp and secretary-treasurer Elliot Stone, the decision to hold AHS' graduation in the park - where it's been held since the late 1980s - was not set in stone. "We met at the beginning of the year (with principal Jeff Schlecht) and we asked what we could do to get graduation in the park because they said last year was the last year in the park," Tepp said. Stone added, "We've all dreamed about having it in the park after watching other classes go before us." Schlecht said some of the primary concerns of a ceremony in the park centered on overcrowding, safety, disabled access, seating and the students' behavior. Similar concerns led Southern Oregon University to hold its final park ceremony last year; in June, SOU graduates will walk for their diplomas in Raider Stadium, which is being called Mountain Arena for commencement events. Schlecht said he, like the students, wanted to continue the park tradition, but it's not an automatic given. "They need to earn the right every year," he said. And they have. "What I have is a wonderful group of seniors," Schlecht said. Leadership students - in addition to their school work, extracurriculars and social lives - spent most of the year planning graduation. Meeting with administrators and teachers, seniors ironed out details like the seating arrangement, sound system, and the senior speaker who will be confirmed and announced at a later date. Other details like the class of 2003's song, colors, "flower" and motto were voted upon by the senior class. Seniors selected Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," crimson and silver, the Venus's-flytrap and "You can not discover oceans until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore," respectively. One of the biggest challenges students faced during the planning process is the seating arrangement for the families and friends of roughly 300 seniors who will be graduating at the June 6 ceremony. "Families have to acknowledge that we're having it in the most beautiful setting imaginable, but unfortunately there's not enough seating for everyone," Schlecht said, adding for each graduating student there will be two chairs for guests. Armstrong said Leadership students have spread the word about limited seating through letters home and the school newspaper. With most of the details in place - including the senior class gift to the school which will be a tower to hang the class of 2002's bell gift - Leadership students still have to pick classmates to perform at the ceremony and review submitted speeches. Currently there are 10 slated valedictorians and one salutatorian. However, those are subject to change depending on progress reports which are due out today, according to school officials. As the end of the year winds down, students reflect on the challenges they've overcome, including schedule changes, lost days, and even war. Despite a hectic final year of high school, Tepp, Armstrong and Stone remember their experiences at AHS with a smile. Thinking over their last four years, each finds a moment they'll always remember. For Tepp it was being a counselor at Fresh Start; for Stone it was being crowned Homecoming king with two of his sisters on the court; and for Armstrong, the senior sleep-over comes to mind. "To reflect back, it's just been extremely rewarding," Stone said. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -