Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506100002
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-27 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Together, they've sponsored several new events throughout the year, they've breathed new life into student leadership at the high school, and they've been caught up in a wave of enthusiasm that has been unusual, said teacher Lois Mitchell.
Approximately 211 seniors will graduate, said Mitchell. Forty-seven percent of them will attend two-year colleges or technical training, 25 percent will join the work force, and the remaining 28 percent will go to four-year colleges. They will leave behind a wake of activities that won't soon be forgotten. "There were several kids from this class who decided this wasn't going to be another ho-hum 'graduation' event,'' said Mitchell.
To make it memorable, they organized a bonfire - and "we haven't had one for 10 or 15 years,'' said Mitchell. The seniors also helped the cheerleaders plan weeklong graduation activities and got involved in a school decoration competition. Mitchell said the seniors' decoration area was the cafeteria, and they did it in style, with posters, balloons, streamers and blinking lights. They also decorated along the football field fence.
Back in December, Mitchell said, the seniors invited their parents to a breakfast in the cafeteria, paid out of class treasury funds and organized entirely by them. Just recently, for the first time, they participated in the Vinton Dogwood Festival by designing a float around the festival's 1950's theme. They decorated a 1955 Ford, and four pairs of students in full costume jitterbugged down the street alongside their float.
Mitchell said this particular project was a good lesson for the seniors. "They found out that when they start out a project, 40 or more people sign up, but they end up with a dozen.''
In addition, the seniors are planning a cruise on the Virginia Dare, on Smith Mountain Lake.
Leadership was instrumental in bringing these events to fruition, said Mitchell.
Senior class President Damon Arrington is a talented drama student who has been involved in Mill Mountain Theatre productions, Mitchell said. Arrington is on the stage crew for "The King and I" as well as being involved in Staunton River's production of "The Fall of the House of Usher."
Jake Gillmore, senior class vice president, also has been a promoter for many of the seniors' events, Mitchell said. "I know he was the motivation behind the Vinton parade float,'' she said.
Gillmore, whose interests include the school newspaper, yearbook and video coordination of the high school's television news, has written a book. As a member of the Maryland-Virginia antique car club, he wrote a book about Edsel dealerships.
This caliber of leadership, together with valedictorian Julie Johnson and salutatorian Jennifer Johnston, has taken Staunton River high school seniors to new heights, according to Mitchell.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***