A Promising Future

3,000 Pack Bethany for 100th Central Graduation

CENTRAL — Central High School conducted its 100th annual graduation ceremony last Friday night.  A total of 224 seniors walked across the stage and received their diplomas at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker.  More than 3,000 students, teachers, friends, and family attended the event.  Supt. Mike Faulk congratulated the graduates for their achievements and wished them well for the future.  Principal Bob Wales said it was the conclusion of another successful year at Central High.

A diploma from Central High means even more this year, since the announcement that Central’s High School students had the highest ACT scores in Louisiana last year.

ACT, or American College Testing, is a standardized test used for admission to all U.S. colleges and universities.  It tests English, math, reading, and science reasoning.  Each student receives a score of 1 to 36 for each test and a composite score which is an average of the four.  ACT and its competing test, the SAT, are used by universities as a factor in admission, along with class rank, grade point average, and extracurricular activities.

Bethany World Prayer Center provides a dramatic setting for Central’s graduation ceremonies each year.  The large sanctuary has no beams and is adorned with the flags of roughly 200 nations.

The event was attended by members of the Central Community School Board, school board staff, and Central High School faculty members.

The valedictorian and two co-salutatorians spoke to the assembly:

• Valedictorian Juan Carlos Ramirez, Jr.

• Co-salutatorians Austin Thra-sher Firesheets and Bethany René Gonzales

As is often the case at Central High graduations, the valedictorian’s address was full of surprises.

Ramirez said he had been named the Quietest Boy in the Senior Class.  One teacher said afterwards, “I haven’t heard that young man say 20 words in the past four years!” Nevertheless, young Ramirez had plenty to say Friday night.

A master of understatement with a dry wit, Juan said it was too bad most members of the senior class had done just enough to get by and never really applied themselves to the opportunity afforded them.

He assured them that this method of operation would not work in the real world.

His words were like the blade of a swordsman who slices off a hand or an ear before his opponent knows it is gone.

It was a speech that most assuredly was not well received by all.  But when he finished, there was a slight pause and then a rousing standing ovation from his classmates.

As the Class of 2012 filed out of the massive chamber, the 100th Central High School graduation came to an end, and the rest of the graduates’ lives lies ahead.

HHH

Supt. Mike Faulk has his hands full these days with the completion of the new Central School Complex.  He is busy closing two schools, opening two schools, and moving everything, including 2,400 students and 200 employees.  The 2012-2013 school year will begin Aug. 8 for school employees and Aug. 13 for students.