As the fireworks flashed in the background, family members and friends poured onto the Custer Stadium field on the evening of May 21 to congratulate the newly graduated members of the Bartlesville High School Class of 2010.
With commencement completed, the door to the future was wide open for the estimated 440 Bruins who earned their diplomas.
“We had a beautiful night,” said BHS principal Teri Brant following graduation, “for a wonderful group of students.”
The BHS Class of 2010 distinguished itself in a myriad of ways. The group boasted five National Merit finalists, two National Merit commended students, three National Hispanic Scholars and a pair of Academic All-State selections. It amassed more than $7 million in scholarships and awards during the 2009-10 academic year and propelled the school toward a cumulative mark of 22.7 on the 2009 ACT, two full points better than the state-wide average on the national college entrance exam.
The evening of May 21 offered an opportunity to celebrate the Bruins’ latest graduating class, and the event played out perfectly. The Custer Stadium stands were packed and Mother Nature offered picturesque weather for the outdoor ceremony.
“We received a lot of favorable feedback about the ceremony,” noted Brant, “from parents, staff and community members.”
As tradition dictates, the graduation ceremonies were student focused and driven. All of the speeches and musical numbers came courtesy of members of the BHS Class of 2010. Student body president Kimberly Gray and Class of 2010 president Miriam Poole addressed their class – and the audience – while student body vice president Adriann Anderson and Kelsey Cochran offered the closing remarks. Makayla Jackson sang a stirring version of “I Hope You Dance.” Student council member Hillary Nickels and Brook Kimrey presented class gifts to BHS staff members.
The main stage was decorated with plants while the podium from which speeches were delivered was adorned with a Bruin logo. Just behind the stage was the Custer Stadium video scoreboard, which broadcast the event in real time as it took place. CableOne’s Randy Kramer and his wife, Jill, handled the video work.
Seated on the stage were all seven members of the Bartlesville Board of Education – president Marta Manning, vice president Doug Divelbiss, clerk Tyler Vaclaw and members Barry W. Lowe, Sam Springer, Ben Rainey and Scott Bilger – along with several administrators from the Bartlesville Public School District, BHS and the Bartlesville Mid-High School, including superintendent Dr. Gary W. Quinn, Brant and Mid-High principal Jason Langham. Manning awarded the diplomas to the graduating students while Brant presented the BHS Class of 2010, confirmed the diplomas and spoke as the ceremonies reached their conclusion.
Junior marshals – members of the BHS Class of 2011 – for commencement were Holly Rummage and Curt Spence. The director of instrumental music for the BPSD, Alex Claussen led the BHS band through the prelude which helped to begin the evening’s events. Sarah Cowles, Ashley Wilkinson, D.J. Bailey and Taylor Rodgers helped to close it by singing the BHS alma mater.
An estimated 440 seniors graduated during commencement ceremonies for the Bartlesville High School Class of 2010 on May 21 at Custer Stadium on the BHS campus.