JORDAN - The Jordan-Elbridge class of 2008 was welcomed in with a powerful ovation of cheers Saturday as the graduation band performed the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance."

As the class stood on the stage, principal Dave Zehner took a moment to reflect on the class and its outstanding achievements.

"This is a unique class," Zehner said. "We have 15 National Honor Society members, 10 who will be receiving regents diplomas with advance distinctions and honors and National Scholar athletes, as well. From the time they started kindergarten in 1995, they have faced challenges and we are all here to celebrate a job well done."

Zehner said that among valedictorian Rachel Lopez's numerous accomplishments, she was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the volleyball team and worked with programs like Youth to Youth.

"We really have become like a family," Lopez said. "Not like one of those TV families where everybody always gets along, but like a real family. We might not always have gotten along all the time, but when we had to meet difficulty everyone was always there to show their love."

Lopez said that the time had flown, making the events of the last few months seem all the more important.

"Thirteen years," Lopez said. "It seems like the blink of an eye. Suddenly everything was a milestone, our last game, our last exam, our last day of school. We'll never again walk down these halls together and have a bell tell us when to get to class and when to go to lunch."

Read the full report in Sunday's edition of The Citizen.