Stephanie Newman, Valedictorian [Click to enlarge]

That is the motto of the Rector High School Class of 2008, which will share an emotional farewell to high school days in commencement exercises at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the school gymnasium.

Parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends will be present to witness the presentation of diplomas and to give the 43-member class a warm sendoff for the future.

Valedictorian of the RHS Class of 2008 is Stephanie Michelle Newman, who completed her studies with a 4.13 grade point average. Salutatorian is Amber LeAnne Haynes, who has a 4.12 GPA.

Amber Haynes, Salutatorian [Click to enlarge]

Honor graduates include: Allison Ranay Smart, 4.10; Elizabeth Sue Loveless, 4.04; Seth Alan Matheney, 3.86; Alexander Roy Roofe, 3.85; Kelsey Leigh Shavalia, 3.78; Michael Andrew Gossett, 3.75; Racheal Whitney Gipson, 3.74; Daniel Deloy Hester, 3.71, and Dillan Blake Hartsfield, 3.55.

Other members of the class are: Thomas Ricky Bagwell, Kyle Anthony Beck, Brent Isaiah Boyd, Drew Mitchell Boyd, Lynnea Dawn Causbie, China Lynn Clark, Whitney Nikole Conley, Joey Zachery Cox, Lindsay Marissa Crouch, Ana Karen Davila, Nicole Renee Deringer, Sarah Nicole Fannin, Kelli Ann Frederick, Corena Deshay Gilbee, Jackie Owen Graham, Teri Ann Hendley, Jake David Crawford Hollis, Jessica Leigh Lampkin, Robin LaRae Lyles, Foy Wade Lyles, Rachel Brittany Mathewson, Crystal LeAnn Meade, Shawn Andrew Midkiff, Autumn Nashea Naney, Hannah Elizabeth Parsley, Samantha Marie Perkins, Briana Christine Rice, Mikel Andrew Rios, Jeffrey Tyler Small, Corbin Dane Taylor, Lindsay Michelle Turner and Derek Walter Wyss.

Graduates will enter the gym as the RHS Concert Band plays. Allison Smart will give the invocation. Addresses by the valedictorian and salutatorian will be followed by the presentation of awards by principal Wade Williams.

Diplomas will be presented by Rector school board president Dale Vangilder. Graduates then will join in singing their class song, "I'm Not Gonna Cry." Senior class members then will lead the school's Alma Mater.

The benediction by graduate Alex Roofe will be followed by the recessional, also played by the RHS Concert Band.

Ushers for the evening will be RHS juniors Hillary Calhoun, Sarah Hester, James Bradshaw and Logan Buck.