High-achieving class of ’08 takes a bow

Those who play together, achieve success together.

Last Thursday, Laguna Beach High School class of 2008 held their commencement ceremony in the Irvine Bowl.

Graduating from high school was not the only reason these students had to celebrate, as the class set records, making local and statewide record books for their sports and academic accomplishments.

In his speech honoring the class of 2008, Principal Don Austin rattled off what seemed like an endless list of the class’ awards and honors, including:

 Numerous MACY Awards for their production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”

Girls volleyball: CIF champions two years in a row

Girls golf and swimming: first-time CIF champions

 Highest collective GPA for a boy’s football team in the state

21% of graduating seniors have a GPA of 4.0 or better

More than 300 AP tests taken

23,000 volunteer hours completed for 67 philanthropic organizations

“They’re definitely smarter than I am. I knew that the minute I saw them,” said English literature teacher Janet Steele.

Before each of the graduates walked across the stage in front of their projected giant baby photo to receive their diploma, they shared bittersweet moments listening to their distinguished speaker, ceramics teacher Bill Darnall and valedictorian John Robinson, 18 — who announced he will be attending Harvard University this fall — recap the last four years.

Senior class speaker Fletcher Berryman, 18, soon to be a geography major at the University of Colorado, took the same approach for his speech — but his trip down memory lane started in the sandbox at Top of the World Elementary School, and continued until the present day.

“I’m still scarred from the multiple times I asked out Paige Obradovich in middle school and her response of ‘no’ every time, and I remember when Austin Cooper pierced his nose in class,” said Berryman.

Obradovich, 18, a CIF girls volleyball champion, will continue to play volleyball and study, but this time as a USC Trojan. Cooper, 18, will attend Pepperdine University to study business this fall.

“It’s bittersweet. He made my high school years, and I’ll be a senior next year and I’ll miss him,” said Cooper’s sister Chelsea, 17.

Afterward, five touring buses waited curbside to transport all 243 members of the Class of 2008 to Disneyland for their Grad Night party.

The parents organized and held fundraisers for their children’s celebration throughout the year, but tradition states that the parents of the upcoming seniors, the class of 2009, will act as chaperons.

Also in attendance and seated on stage were the Laguna Beach Unified School District’s Supt. Robert Fraisse; Assistant Superintendent Nancy Hubbell; School Board President El Hathaway; and board members Ketta Brown, Betsy Jenkins, Jan Vickers, and Theresa O’Hare. Assistant Principal Bob Billinger was the emcee.

“They’re a very close-knit group that looked out for each other, but it’s also about great leadership, and that starts with Don Austin,” said O’Hare.

O’Hare’s son Brendan, 18, was also among the graduates. This summer he will pursue a degree in physics at a UC school.

“The love they had for each other really shone through. It was electric on that stage tonight, you could feel it,” said Austin.