Latest batch of Blue Ponies celebrate graduation

The list of Havre High School alumni grew by nearly 120 over the Memorial Day weekend, as the Class of 2011 sported their caps and gowns to receive their diplomas.

The 117 graduates and their hundreds of supporters filled the Havre High School gymnasium on Sunday afternoon for this year's graduation ceremony, which made Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson think back to his own.

Havre Public School Superintendent Andy Carlson, right, moves Havre High School graduate Ryan Ruhkamp's tassel during the HHS commencement Sunday afternoon in the school's gym.

"I think everyone of us has been through a graduation," Carlson said. "We think back to the time we walked across. You remember what an exciting time it was for you, and I think part of today is joining in on that celebration for the Class of 2011.

"Today is a great day for each and every one of them."

After David Johnke, director of the Havre High School Symphonic Band, led the band through the processional, Havre High School song and a specially chosen Shostakovich piece, Carlson introduced the 2011 ceremony's speaker, Carol Pleninger.

Pleninger is a Havre High science teacher who has taught lab sciences, biology and chemistry and won awards doing so, but her speech was mostly literary.

She described the students lives as their own work of art, an autobiography in which they had to carefully craft their character development, setting and plot.

"Today is the day to put your pen to the paper and write your best work," Pleninger said.

Later the students lined up to receive their diplomas, shake the hands of administrators and move the tassels across their mortarboards.

Despite a request in the ceremony's program to "not use noise makers or create other distractions," many found it difficult to control their excitement, most loudly with an air horn blast every few names.

Of those graduating, 12 did so with honors. Two, Robert Payton Robertson and Brittanee Marie Wood, maintained a 4.0 grade point average through every year of school.

Thirty-three of the graduates, according to the program, received a total of 69 scholarships and awards, totalling more than $423,000.

After the ceremony, graduates gathered on the lawn and in the parking lot on the west-side of the school grounds to meet with family and takes pictures for a few minutes before a sudden downpour provided a definitive end to the festivities at the school.

"I wish the day was better," Trustee Curtis Smeby said, "but there will be many wonderful days for these graduates."