Alden-Hebron seniors ready to ‘face the challenges put before us’

HEBRON – Facing the challenges of today’s world won’t be easy.

But the 26 members of Alden-Hebron High School Class of 2009 can do it, Salutatorian Jacob Gricar told the crowd gathered for Friday night’s commencement ceremony.

“We may not know what is in store for us for our future, but we will succeed,’’ Gricar said. “Our class will go on, and we will become the leading innovators of the world. It is our class who will stand to face the challenges put before us.’’

Finding jobs and even affording college educations in a struggling economy will make it harder on this year’s graduates, he said.

“We will have to compete for what we want,’’ Gricar said. “With determination, even the wildest dreams can become reality.’’

As the 26 graduates marched one by one into the gymnasium in green caps and gowns, tears were shed, and whispers of how much the students had changed and grown spread through the close-knit crowd.

“I think of all the good times we had hanging out,’’ Valedictorian Cory Dorfner said, adding that individually, his fellow classmates “are capable of anything.’’

But Alden-Hebron taught him and his friends about more than individual success.

“We also needed to be a team player when it came to group projects,’’ he said. “All of these qualities shouldn’t stop being used now that high school is over.’’

Some of his classmates will become engineers and create new and better things, while others will become teachers and teach a new generation, he said.

But leaving Alden-Hebron will not be easy, Dorfner said.

“There will be hugs and tears,’’ he said. “We’ll do our best to stay in touch, but we’ll be busy leading our lives.’’