After receiving her diploma, Sheridan graduate Bethany Dickey shakes hands with teachers, who are reflected in her sun-glasses.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

The Sheridan graduating class of 2009 toss their hats up at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

After the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates greet parent and friends including graduate John Mount with a hat adorned with sports photos of himself and one dollar bills, indicating his nickname "Dollar."
Marcus Larson/News-Register

Graduate Emma Buchholz, center, cracks a smile after a speaker reads off one of the nice comments one of the schools teachers wrote about her personality.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

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SHERIDAN — Social studies teacher Jeff Swinehart told graduates at Saturday’s 101st Sheridan High School commencement that the sky is not always falling.

“Good things do happen, and they will happen to you,” said Swinehart, who has worked in the district for 12 years and taught most of the class members.

Swinehart also told the seniors to be aware of everything going on around them, and he assured each of them if they stick to the task at hand it likely will stick to them.

He said he sought the advice of colleagues so he might deliver the best possible commencement speech. First of all, he was told to keep his presentation short — under 15 minutes.

There are train tracks that run adjacent to Bill Criswell Memorial Field, where graduation took place. Swinehart was advised if he heard the sound of a train approaching, he should take a break until it passed by.

Finally, if he got the “cut” sign from Superintendent A.J. Grauer, that meant it was time to wrap things up.

Swinehart said he asked his colleagues for suggestions on what they might offer a senior as a graduation present.

The responses included a belt, an alarm clock that automatically signals first period, the energy to get up in the morning, a career in the World Wrestling Federation and a dose of reality. One said the new grads need to realize, “Your parents won’t let you live in their house when you’re 30.”

Jeremy Togstad, a 4.0 student, delivered the valedictorian speech. The son of Jim and Kathy Togstad, he got his start in the Sheridan school system as a kindergartner.

That’s all behind him now. In the fall, he’ll be enrolling at Oregon State University.

He characterized his classmates as an intelligent group and encouraged them to give back to the school and community in some way in the years to come.

Alyssa Ogle gave the salutatorian speech.

The daughter of Randy and Belinda Ogle, she also started as a kindergartner. She plans to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

She said her high school years were like a roller coaster ride. She was proud to say her classmates came together the past four years and made it to the end.

The tassel turn has become a tradition at Sheridan’s commencement.

After the seniors received their diplomas Saturday, they were greeted by staff members. The staff delegation included Bob Bennett, who flipped the tassel on each of their caps for them.

Bennett said he enjoyed the brief moment he spent with each student. He said he has memories of them all. He said there were a lot of “special kids” in the class.

Jason Alexander, elected last week to the Sheridan School Board, was named Boy of the Year. Ogle was named Girl of the Year.

The senior class gift to the school was a $500 donation for athletic banners for the gym. One will celebrate Sheridan’s Class 2A state volleyball championship last year.

The seniors also gave $450 to the library, which made the day of Librarian Dolly Bagwell.

“That’s awesome,” she said. “Times are tight. That will help us pick up some of the new books students have been clamoring for.”