Published: May 20, 2008 12:13 am            

Chisholm valedictorians address seniors during commencement

The four valedictorians of Chisholm High School’s class of 2008 offered advice to their fellow graduates during commencement exercises held in Paul J. Outhier Field House Monday night.

Heather Braley, the first valedictorian speaker, encouraged her classmates to look back at the “firsts” they’d experienced together as a class.

The first school dance, the first crush, the first day of high school — “we were scared to death, but there was no reason to be,” she said.

Then there are the “lasts,” the last game, meet, concert, she said, that have made up the past weeks at CHS.

“We certainly aren’t stopping with those lasts,” Braley said. “Soon we’ll experience a whole new set of firsts.”

Braley graduated with a 4.13 GPA and plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma, then go to the University of Oklahoma for law school.

Brandon Highfill, whose valedictory address focused on thanking his parents, teachers and classmates, spoke second.

“Guys, it was an amazing year,” Highfill said. “I’m really going to miss high school, but I think we’re ready for what’s next.”

Highfill will be an architecture major at Oklahoma State University in the fall. He graduated with a 4.24 GPA.

As Adam Reitz wrote his valedictorian speech, he realized “as a speech writer, I’m good at math.”

The third to speak during the graduation ceremony, he offered quotes from Mark Twain and Art Linkletter.

“Be flexible,” Reitz told his classmates. “Don’t be afraid to take risks.”

Reitz will be a freshman at OU in the fall, majoring in engineering. He earned a 4.25 GPA while at CHS.

The final speaker, Christine Leslie, challenged her fellow graduates to live by the “and-then-some” principal.

She said the good Samaritan helped the injured man on the road — and then some.

“It’s the difference between packing up your things five minutes before the end of work and staying late to get something done that really needs to be done,” Leslie said. “It’s going beyond the minimum requirements and going the extra mile.”

Leslie graduated with a 4.27 GPA and will attend UCO in the fall, majoring in Spanish education.

Principal Jaymie Morley said the class of 2008 earned $540,000 in scholarship money. Forty-one students received diplomas.

“I look forward to what the future holds for this class,” Morley said.