Seniors sigh relief

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STERLING - With blue skies above, and dressed in their dark blue caps and gowns, the 2007 Sterling High School seniors did one last thing as a class. Rather than leaving as 218 individuals, they graduated as one tight-knit group. Over the last four years, they excelled academically and athletically, and when some students excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field, the fellow classmates were there to cheer them on.

Joe Scheiderbauer recalled at Sunday's commencement ceremony, the class of 2007 had a bad reputation for misbehaving, like the constant pulling of fire alarms. As a class though, they all matured into a class the school will miss.

"They're going to leave a hole in the school. We've turned out a number of good leaders," said Principal Jerry Binder. "I think they've set a pretty high bar for the rest of our kids right now."

It was that leadership that five seniors used to help bring the girls basketball team to the state championship tournament for the first time in since 1983.

This class also sent a team to state competition in group interpretation, multiple track and swimming participants to state competitions and had a drumline that always amazed the crowds.

This year's senior class was the first class at Sterling High School to make the grades required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

This class will have "a lot of success. We have a lot of great people," Class President Kelsey Boyd said. "Not everyone gets someone with a (35) ACT score." Boyd was referring to Matthew Gerken who was chosen as one of the students of the year and will attend Yale University in the fall. The other student of the year was Rachel Kramer.

The class came together when they had to adjust to the administration's decision to close campus this year. Being able to go off campus for lunch was a freedom they enjoyed for three years.

"We made it hard on this class with closed campus and they handled it well," Binder said. "They could've made a nightmare out of it, but they didn't."

These 218 students graduated as one class, and not as many different groups of friends, said class Vice President Ellie Eshleman. Being a tight-knit group of friends was important when they had to cope with the loss of a classmate.

Zane Ryan died March of acute bronchopneumonia. At Sunday's ceremony, the school presented Zane's parents, Mike and Christine, with his diploma, his cap and gown and a scrap book of memories of their son. The class also released Superman balloons in Zane's honor. Superman was his favorite comic book.

"Being who we are, we all pulled together," Boyd said.

One thing Binder will miss about this class is the energy they brought to the school and a spirit that was infectious throughout the community. When the Girls' basketball team made its way to the state tournament, the senior class led the crowd that filled the arena in Bloomington.

"Your school's enthusiasm goes up when your seniors help create that," Binder said. "This group of kids helped create a lot of enthusiasm."

In preparation for the next chapter in these students' lives, they earned $1.45 million in scholarship money. The previous Sterling High School classes over the last few years brought in just under $1 million.

In the fall, Sterling High School will have graduates at Yale, Northwestern University, Lewis University, St. Ambrose University, the University of Tampa, Ashford University, Augustana College, St. Olaf College, Oakland University, University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University and Western Illinois among others.

"It's time to say goodbye to this place and its comfort," Boyd said.