Say hello to the class of 2006

Moses Lake High School graduates 368

MOSES LAKE — Thursday evening was a time of great celebration as much as it was a reflection of the last four years for the 368 seniors from Moses Lake High School who received their diplomas.

The time-honored tradition of coming together with fellow students, family members and friends and turning their tassels marked one more step toward ascent into the world of adulthood for the class of 2006.

Dressed in his maroon and gold, senior Christopher Forrest looked around at the other graduates before him outside the Big Bend Community College gymnasium prior to the ceremony.

"Everyone here is going to be successful at something," Forrest said, who will be attending Eastern Washington University next school year.

Missy Wambaugh will begin her post high school days studying locally at BBCC in the nursing program, fellow senior Aubrei Ackerman is off to the Art Institute of Seattle and Caleb Gonzalez has his heart set on attending Oregon State University.

But before stepping too far into the future, these seniors have much to recall about the last four years of their lives.

There were the fashions of trendy clothes like the Ugg boots with pant legs tucked inside that senior Nicole Miranda recalls many of her classmates wearing.

It wasn't one of her favorites.

The retro 70s and vintage clothes come to mind for Ackerman.

"I rocked it," Ackerman said of the styles that marked her high school years.

Then there were some who turned their thoughts to more personal reflections of high school, like Amanda De La Rosa, the first in her family to graduate from high school.

Graduation was about making history in her family.

"It's an honor for me to do that for my family," De La Rosa said.

"We're moving a step higher little by little," chimed in friend Erendira Camacho in regard to Hispanic students.

Overcoming obstacles was a significant part of Gonzalez's high school experience.

The wide receiver for the Chiefs football team, who played all four years in high school, had a spleen injury his sophomore year and sat out for half the season. But he came back and made second team all conference.

And in the words of guest speaker and student David Luu-Vann during Thursday's ceremony, "with 368 graduates, we leave our mark on Moses Lake."

A moment of remembrance was observed in memory of student Johnathan Charles Jackson, who would have graduated with the class of 2006 if not for his passing.

"He had a smile and a twinkle in his eyes that would light up a room," said MLHS principal Dave Balcom. "He loved his Chiefs and he loved his maroon and gold."

During the ceremony Balcom presented Jackson's mother with his diploma.

When asked what the best day of high school has been, Forrest replied, "today."