Whitnall High School Celebrates Commencement Milestone

The Whitnall High School's band and orchestra performed Pomp and Circumstance as it usually does this time of year.

It was, however, no ordinary graduation for the Class of 2011, who along with hundreds of friends, family members, teachers and administrators packed the school's gymnasium to celebrate its 50th annual commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon.

played basketball for three years at Whitnall and will take his high school memories with him as he continues his education studying business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater this fall. He’s grateful for the support he’s gotten over the years leading up to graduation day.

“I’m sure my mom cried about 30 times during this whole experience and my family members are all extremely happy for me and they’re happy that I’m actually going further than high school as well,” Broadwater said.

The exciting time filled with new opportunities for the seniors is often bittersweet for faculty members.

“You come to know these students very well over the years. You’re proud of them, you’re proud of all they’ve accomplished, but then they have to go and leave you,” band director Griffin James said.

Amy Atkinson, the proud parent of Courtney Atkinson, who was a member of the National Honor Society and played soccer, was proud of all her daughter’s accomplishments and is excited to see her further her studies this fall at Carthage College. Courtney Atkinson plans on majoring in business management.

“She’s worked really hard in school; (she) was in the National Honor Society," Amy Atkinson said. "So to have it all culminate in the graduation ceremony, I’m just really looking forward to it."

The graduating seniors left a final mark on the school before departing. Senior class vice president Zachary Azumani and senior class secretary Danielle Starke presented the class gift to administrators during the ceremony, a $4,000 LCD sign that will replace the old one outside the high school entrance.

Valedictorian Nathan DuPont, who had a cumulative grade-point average of 4.543 and will be attending UW-Madison this fall recalled his high school years with humorous stories and thanked his teachers and fellow classmates for the lessons he’s learned during his commencement address.

“High school was a very humbling experience and so too will be the things we experience in the future, no matter what it holds,” he said.