PHOTO GALLERY: Liberty Junior High Grads Say Farewell

The 2011 graduating class of appeared strikingly majestic in their red gowns as they marched into the gymnasium with the band sounding out the processional.

Family, friends, faculty and staff filled the seats to capacity in a strong show of support for all of the graduates’ accomplishments these past years.  Bursts of applause and cheers filled the gym as names were read, and adwards and accomplisments acknoweledged.

The Pledge of Allegience was led by the president of the National Junior Honor Society, Divinity Burgos. Shortly before the ceremony Divinity told Patch how very happy she is to have made it this far and for all the accomplishments of her classmates who made it a great year.

Inspriring and optimistic speeches from Valedictorian Raymundo Muro-Barrios and Student Council Representative Emma Hahs drove home the point that despite the challenges in our world, their talents, intelligence and determination can bring better changes ahead. Emma cleverly incorporated the use of her smart phone into her speech as a means to remind us that young students can communicate in other ways than just with text.

Raymundo said he was surpised that he was valedictorian. He said that there were ‘”a lot of smarter kids in our class, but I tried the hardest.”  Like many of the graduates we spoke to who have a busy summer ahead, Raymundo also looks forward to some free time. He likes that his dad will sometimes take him to Navy Pier or Six Flags.

Liberty school sprit and enthusiam continued through the ceremony with Principal Joel Benton and remarks from School Board President Nick DiSandro.

While many of the graduates insisted with big smiles that they were happy to be finished at last, Jessica Wallace said “I’m happy, but sad. I’m gonna miss Liberty.”

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