Oak Park and River Forest High School - Tabula Yearbook (Oak Park, IL)

Page 15 text:

Y OI1CLlI'1'GI1t OIIIIHQHCSIIIQUTS hen it comes to baseball, Pomp and Cir- cumstance will probably never replace Take Me out to the Ballgame , but that was exactly what happened at one of the ceremonies of last year's double graduation held on the 5th and 6th of lune. A day before the main graduation, held in the OPRF stadium, eight of the seniors on the varsity baseball team received their official diplomas in a special commencement held in Springfield, IL. They were playing in the state championships. The cere- mony was a surprise to all the players except gra- duate Victor Vanek, who had the highest G.P.A. of the players and acted as valedictorian. Because he had to prepare a valedictory speech, Vanek had been told about the ceremony in advance. Baseball Coach Mr. Richard Trout arranged the ceremony. which had many of the same details as the official commencement. lt wasn't as fancy as the real gradu- ation, Head Coach Kaiser said, but it had a special meaning for the boys. Meanwhile, in Oak Park, approximately 698 stu- dents graduated in the 109th commencement. lt was a beautiful day, and the ceremony went well, said Dr. Walker. Graduate Greg Capelli agreed: lt was great that it was held outside. l thought the whole thing was very well run and organized. The gradu- ates wore the long white dresses, dark suits, and roses, traditional of graduation. Speeches were given by Superintendent Dr. Swanson, School Board Presi- dent Leah Marcus, and valedictorians loseph Hilliard and Saji Thomas. The ceremony climaxed with the school cheer, led by senior class president Ray Car- lin. As they shouted Gimme an Ol and threw their confetti in the air, the graduates realized that this was the end of their high school lives, and the beginning of their futures. -luliana Nocker

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Graduates Stacey Chuchro and Rich Buscemi smile amid the flying confetti which marked the end of the ceremony. The moment they've all been waiting for: classmates watch as two soon-to-be graduates approach the stage to accept their diplomas. 4 I Alec Lisec l V .- iv HST wrt-1 itH'P i L. X. in .l -M The commencement begins on a serious note as Student Council President, Peter Finn, delivers the invocation. The four years of hard work and determination have paid off for valedictorians Saji Thomas and loe Hilliard. After making their speeches to the graduates, they hold their well deserved diplomas, as School Board President Leah Marcus prepares for her closing speech. Despite their loss downstate, varsity baseball players Vic Vanek, Scott Nelson, lason Klonowski, and Chris Koch smile proudly after receiving their diplomas in their-own special ceremo- ny. Graduation 93 Nlullf Alec Lisec nu E Schmitt Studios F 2 : I , The joyful face of Mary Davis contrasts with the sad, reminisc- ing look of classmates Toni Davis and Tom DeLaura. Their expres- sions reflect some of the graduates' feelings about leaving OPRF HS.

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