On June 1 eighty-two students joined the ranks of high school graduates and eight foreign exchange students received certificates of completion at Gobles High School commencement exercises for the Class of 2008.

The Class of 2008 is the 115th graduating class from Gobles High School, and the ceremony followed many old traditions, and a few new ones. Alumni speaker Loriann Harbaugh, Class of '87 and now a teacher at Gobles Middle/High School, talked to the class about the importance of spending time with the person you used to be and the person you hope to be in the future. Student commencement addresses were delivered by Nicholas Smith and Peter Oudesma, Senior Awards were delivered by Brytny Martinez, and Cody Ketchum delivered the traditional farewell in his trademark cowboy hat before a rain of graduation caps thrown by his classmates.

Future plans for the Class of 2008 have 77% planning to go to a two or four-year college, and 12% planning to attend a technical or trade school. 11% intend to join the work force after graduation. Thirty nine students graduated with honors, including twelve students who graduated Summa Cum Laude, or with highest honors, a grade point average at 3.75 or better.

Congratulations to all of this year's graduates, and also the families that helped these students achieve this important distinction.

First-grade teacher Marsha Champion and high school home economics/computer teacher Nancy Harthorn were named 2007-08 Gobles Public Schools Teachers of the Year at an awards luncheon Thursday. Champion and Harthorn were chosen by a committee of their peers.

The recognition is part of the PRIDE program for teachers, which looks to recognize and share the outstanding classroom practices of our best teachers. Mrs. Champion was recognized for her long-standing dedication and effort on behalf of her first graders, going the extra mile to make sure the best teaching and learning was taking place in her classroom. Mrs. Harthorn was recognized for teaching a real-world curriculum and working to instill the positive values young people need to make successful, responsible transitions into their adult lives.

Congratulations to Mrs. Harthorn and Mrs. Champion for this honor, and thanks for representing the teaching staff of Gobles Public Schools and postively impacting thousands of student lives in this community over the years.