Each profile was impressive and encouraging.

Graduation is a bittersweet time. As you prepare to separate from your friends, some life long, you will clutch your yearbook filled with great salutations from folks who have shared joys and sorrows with you on your journey to graduation. Cherish those comments now; in a few years you might not remember who "Sparky" or "Peaches" was and why they had such nice things to say about you.

You will remember your high school education, though. It’s from those four years you just spent that your character and will to succeed were either molded or wasted, depending on your own efforts.

Some of you will go on to college, and we wish you well. Some will go into the work force, and you will become the backbone of our communities.

We believe that through hard work, loyalty and honesty you can progress to a leadership position in any career you choose.

As the class of 2009 is inheriting a country and a world in turmoil; we are counting on you to put forth the effort and will in future leadership roles, leadership roles that will continue to support your families, our city, our county and our country.

We particularly need you to succeed because your success will continue to insure that our very way of life will prosper, and our country will continue to be the beacon of prosperity, fairness and freedom for the world.