The graduating class of 2000 took to the stage at the Weyburn Comprehensive School on Wednesday night, receiving their diplomas and marking a major milestone in their lives.

"Remembering the past, living the present, dreaming the future," were the words written on a huge backdrop as all 161 grads marched across the platform to get their scrolls from principal Ken Larson.

Graduate Jennifer Hamann got more than her diploma that evening, as her boyfriend, James Schepens, was waiting for her at the end of the walkway on bended knee, holding an engagement ring. Hamann, smiling through her tears, accepted the impromptu proposal.

Grad co-ordinators Melanie Fish and Michelle Pilon acted as MCs for the evening. They introduced the grad choir, directed by Marnie Johnson, which sang the song, I'll Remember You Through the Years. The choir was accompanied by Amy Satre on piano and Melissa Renz on flute. Later that evening, graduate Marie Barber entertained the packed gymnasium singing The River, accompanied by Amy Satre.

The invocation was given by Rev. Bill Corkum, and a number of speakers followed.

In the principal's address, Ken Larson told the graduates their work ethics, knowledge acquisition, visioning skills and adaptability would be important going into the 21st century, just as they always have been.

He borrowed a few tips from Microsoft CEO Bill Gates about the real world, including, "Life is not fair - get used to it; you will not make $40,000 a year right out of school; if you think your teachers are tough, wait until you encounter your first boss; before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now; life, as you will quickly learn, is not divided into semesters, you won't get summers off and employers won't help you find yourselves; and be nice to nerds - you may end up working for one."

Larson encouraged the grads to become "humanists," emphasizing social interaction, friendship, and citizenship in their lives. He told them to be "more than an individual - to be a segment in the human chain."

Larson added two retiring teachers, Brian Wilson and Darlene Andrusiak, were great examples of the "humanist" approach. He paid tribute to their 30 years in teaching.

"I'd say they spent 30 years in the business of teaching, but it's not a business, it's a life."

SRC co-chairpersons Jordan Anderson and Stephanie Ernst talked about wide range of experiences students have throughout those K-12 years.

"We have truly experienced it all, from scraping our knees at elementary school to going through final exams," said Ernst. "We were guided through by parents, teachers and friends."

Anderson told his fellow grads that the 365 days on the calendar went by very quickly in the past year, and in the years to come, graduation would be "one of our crowning achievements."

In her tribute to the parents, Sarah Hamilton talked about mixed emotions - those of graduates, who are excited and fearful, and those of parents, who are filled with pride and sadness as their children leave home.

"Today you should be proud as you see your babies as the individual people we've become," she said.

Parent Nick Coroluick, whose third and last child graduated that night, responded to the tribute. Coroluick told the audience he had a perfect movie-like vision of family life, but reality was quite different.

"One moment I'm watching an action flick, then it's a romance, followed by an all-night talk show. The drama never stopped, never slowed down," he said.

Coroluick said up until now grads had been a part of a family script, with parents directing them in the roles they should play, but on graduation day "we are passing the creative control to you."

"You choose the cast, you choose the script. If we as parents are wise, we'll play a supporting role... This is your movie, but I encourage you to consider a set of expert directors, your parents, who are more than willing to make a cameo appearance," he said.

Graduate Tamara Roy gave the tribute to the school board, thanking them for their skill and hard work behind the scenes to provide modern equipment and a great school environment.

"They have given their time to contribute to the advancement and learning of future generations," she said.

In her reply, Comp School Board chair Donette Elder told students the role of the board was to put all of the tools students needed within their reach.

Elder told the students to remember that God, their parents and their community loves and cares for them, and wished that whatever community they find themselves in will care for them, too.

Alison Mehler paid tribute to the teachers, saying the teachers who made the biggest impact were the ones who took the time to listen to students and spend time with them outside the classroom.

She recalled moving to Weyburn and wondering if teachers here would be as good as her teachers in Regina, but realized "teachers are teachers, no matter where you go," in their caring and concern for students.

"Over the years they've had a special way of making us feel important and helping us realize our full potential," she said.

"We have you to thank for helping us to prepare for the rest of our lives."

Retiring teacher Brian Wilson responded. He told the audience educating children is a responsibility teachers take very seriously, and that within the profession teachers are constantly learning to make sure their students have the most up-to-date information.

He said teachers are proud to have influenced students' lives, and their interest in students can last long after grad.

"I can't think of a more exciting time in the staff room than when we get a letter from a former student," he said, noting letters have come from all over the world, and that teachers are motivated by that contact because it is an acknowledgement of their importance in a student's life.

"We as teachers will continue to be in your lives and continue to help you beyond high school - we do it not because we are your teachers, but because we are your friends," he said.

Valedictorian Ian Fleck capped off the night with his address.

"We're jumping into the arms of the great unknown - they may not be as comforting as our mothers' or as strong as our fathers', but we'll be embraced by them just the same," said Fleck, who was chosen to be valedictorian based on his marks and school involvement.

Fleck admitted sometimes it was hard to get out of bed in the morning to go to school, get homework done and listen to teachers, but "school was worth the trip in the end - it got us where we are now."

Fleck told the audience he was looking for the perfect quote to sum up the feelings of grads that evening, but during his search he realized there was no perfect quote, because everyone's feelings were different.

Parents and friends will be there to help the grads with those feelings, Fleck said.

"We have the weight of the world on our shoulders, but we'll always have someone to lean on."

Graduates could take the high road, the road less travelled or the easy road, but in the end, said Fleck, they should take their own road to fulfill their happiness.

"What better way to get there but by the one you made? Blaze your own trail to success," he said.

Following the grad exercises, grads, parents and other invited guests enjoyed a barbecue at the Curling Rink, a dance, and several games and activities, including a small fireworks display at the exhibition grounds.

The class of 2000 includes: Rhonda Abel, Sheena Aitken, Danielle Anderson, Jordan Anderson, Steve Anderson, Jenn Ashworth, Mike Babiarz, Toni Backlun, Chris Ballie, Marie Barber, Chantal Batter, Holly Beary, Carole Beaudry, Andrea Becker, Melissa Bloor, Sheena Borys, Erin Bryksa, Travis Buck, Brian Burgess, Blake Burnett, Matt Cameron, Donna Castle, Derek Churko, Treena Clark, Jeff Clay, Curtis Corbett, Pete Corkum, Karla Cornish, Luke Cugnet, Tim Cugnet, Brent Daku, Mathew Damman, Lindsay Davies, Graham DeLaet, Trina Delanoy, Steve Deschambault, Amy Dickson, Adam Donison, Ryan Driedger, Shane Druck, Anita Dufour, Daniel Duthie;

Yasmine Ebert, Jason Edwards, Courtney Edwardson, Greg Ekkebus, Stephanie Ernst, Dana Fahlman, Clayton Fellner, Brett Ferguson, Jim Ferguson, Melanie Fish, Ian Fleck, Kasey Fowler, Doug Gall, James Gallagher, Amy Gervais, Jamie Gibbons, Krista Goranson, Darcy Hahn, Jennifer Hamann, Sarah Hamilton, Gavin Hanson, Danielle Hastings, Scott Hingtgen, Stephen Hoff, Ryan Holdstock, Derek Houghton, Carrie Johnson, Lacey Johnson, Burton Jones, Charlene Josephson, Catherine Kambeitz, Lindsay Katschke, Amanda Kennedy, Jeremy Knibbs, Shatel Kohonick, Jason Kopeck, Cheralee Kopetzki, Justin Kot, Leah Kot, Chris Kradovill, Joanna Kraft, Jon Kurtz;

Trina Lanz, Ryan Lawrence, Neil Layden, Bre Leach, Amy LeClair, Travis Leeks, Lorreen Lipowiecki, Amy Lonoway, Derek Ludwig, Jennifer Lupanko, Blair MacNaughton, Derek MacPherson, Lise Marcotte, Marla May, David McLeod, Kelly-Ann McLeod, John McMurdo, Tyson Megenbir, Alison Mehler, Meghan Melanson, Melissa Melby, Chris Minard, Nathan Morrice, Evan Nast, Josh Norman, William Orr, Sarah Peterson, Michelle Pickering, Michelle Pilon, Rafal Polujanski, Holly Power, Josh Pulfer, Norman Rasmussen, Ryan Rebrinsky, Melina Reich, Ryan Reid, Tyla Rimmer, Scott Robillard, Brent Rolston, Tamara Roy, Gabe Runge, Chris Russell;

Angie Salisbury, Krista Sandney, Dustin Satre, Adam Saunders, Jonathan Schultz, Derek Seitz, Shannon Seitz, Michael Siourounis, Brandie Sliwka, Tina Sollosy, Kim Stadel, Devin Stein, Cory Sterling, Geoff Stewart, Jenelle Stewart, Courtney Stott, Jada Sutherland, Brandon Swertz, Jesse Szczencinski, Jessica Telford, Deana Thompson, Nelson Tilley, Colton Tochor, Maria Ursu, Ryan Vinck, Amanda Von Hagen, Michelle Wanner, Anson Weber, Ammie Weiss, Katja Wheeler, Sharla Wilkinson, Derek Wilson, Karen Wormsbecker, Kristen Young, Brandy Zaharia, Dan Zielke, Susan Zyrek.

For more grad coverage and photos check out the July 5 issue of the Weyburn Review.