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Galt's 'Warriors' head into the real world

By Ripley Howe
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Galt High School seniors head to their futures as they walk to the stage during the school's graduation ceremony June 4 at Warrior Stadium. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

The football field at Galt High School could scarcely contain the enthusiastic and occasionally rowdy graduating Class of 2003.

At the ceremony Wednesday evening, 334 graduates received their diplomas in front of an overflow audience of family and friends. The crowd filled the grandstands and the surrounding area, as well as the many rows of chairs set up for immediate family members.

The happy graduating seniors took their places on portable grandstands facing the large crowd of well-wishers. The stands flanked an archway reading, "Live today, cherish yesterday, dream of tomorrow."

Looking into the sun in their bright red caps and gowns, most of the graduates were wearing sunglasses, giving the group a very stylish appearance.

The seniors on the stands to the right of the stage got frisky early a stowaway among the graduates in the stands was discovered by Galt police, and quickly led away as the grads chanted the boy's name. Murmurs in the crowd indicated that the fellow had blown a test and failed to graduate. The words "summer school" were heard.

The ceremony soon settled down.

Galt Mayor Darryl Clare, whose son, Christopher, was among the graduates, addressed the audience.

"You will always carry with you the memories of tonight, and the memories of the people you came to know as friends," he said. "We certainly wish you the best."

A couple of beach balls made an appearance at about this point, but the swirling wind quickly blew them out of reach.

David Drummond was the class salutatorian, and graduated with a GPA of 4.42. He spoke to the crowd about the importance of companionship.

"Every time I have encountered problems and difficulties, it was easier with companionship than without," he said.

Valedictorian Darren Whitwood graduated with a GPA of 4.45. He spoke of the hard work and good fortune required to succeed.

"First, I thank God," he said. "Second, I thank my mother for reading to me. If there is a reason on earth that I am here, it is you."

Principal Larry Tosta spoke next.

He said he had struggled with his speech, and had asked for advice everyone told him to "keep it short, like your hair," he said.

Tosta said he had graduated from high school in 1966. He said that in some ways the times were similar, with young men going off to war, and the nation facing a troubled world.

"It was a time of confusion, and it was also an experience filled with anticipation and sadness," he said.

Tosta spoke first to the parents, noting that they were likely filled with both pride and sadness, that their children were no longer quite so dependent on them.

He then spoke to the graduates, telling them that there is a distinction between excellence and perfection.

"Perfection has to do with the end-product; excellence has to do with the process," he said. "A lot of little things done well is a big thing."

Then began the long process of handing out the diplomas.

Galt Joint Union High School District board members Pat Maple and Dennis Richardson handed out diplomas as each student's name was called.

The cheerful and happy graduates took their diplomas (many of the boys giving the burly Maple a bear-hug on the way by). As they made their way back to their seats, they paused to have their graduation picture taken, and many chose to strike a jaunty pose for the camera. Quite a few of the new graduates chose to keep their sunglasses on for the photo.

As the diploma ceremony wound down, beach balls, silly-string and general hijinks began to take over the stands full of new graduates. Though the police in attendance made a bit of a show of quieting things down, they didn't really try.

And when the diplomas were all handed out, Tosta ordered the lights turned off, and the traditional fireworks show began.

After the fireworks were over and the lights began to come back up, Galt High's newest graduates began to shed their crimson robes and joined their community as young adults.