Some tears of joy, some tears of sorrow, some high fives and some embraces all took place this week as hundreds of North Coast students bid adieu to their respective high schools, middle schools and elementary schools and took a step toward their future.

“This was an outstanding group,” McKinleyville High School Principal David Lonn said of the 166 graduating seniors. “They are overall hardworking and good kids, and we feel that they’re going to make good contributions not only in their own lives, but in society in general.”

Ferndale High School Principal Sam Garamendi agreed that the 35 graduates who constitute his Class of 2008 will make an indelible mark on the world that awaits. “These young people possess the curiosity, the individuality and the boldness necessary to solve complex problems in a complex world,” he said.

With some students set to attend such colleges as Cal Poly, Oregon State, Chico and College of the Redwoods, and others preparing to joining the family dairy and construction businesses, Garamendi said Ferndale students are ready for what lies ahead.

“There are advanced degrees of entrepreneurial spirit and visionaries on this side of the bridge,” he said.

At St. Bernard’s High School, Principal Pat Daly said the 26 graduates are all attending colleges and universities in the fall and will take the moral foundation reinforced in their St. Bernard’s education with them when they go. “They are definitely a group that is motivated, yet they still have a sense of their faith in God,” he said. “They have that sense of humbleness, too, which is really important, and they will carry that throughout their life.”

“They’re a great group of kids,” he said. “Every class has its own personality, and this is a class that had about 26 of them.”

Taking graduation as an opportunity to bring closure to the devastating experience of losing one of their classmates, Lyndsay Barrera, in a car accident recently, were the 24 graduates of Freshwater Charter Middle School. Each student held a pink rose and took turns placing them in a vase that was presented to Barrera’s mother. A band composed of Barrera’s peers dedicated the song “What’s Next” to her memory during the ceremony.

At Del Norte High School, two of the five students who were honored as valedictorian were life-long competitors — and twin sisters. Rachel and Rebecca Cink had been vying to be “the very best” since Day One, their mother Carole said.

“They’ve always been extremely competitive, and they’re also best friends,” she said of her daughters, who will both attend University of Notre Dame in the fall.

“They used to always come home and tell me, ‘Oh, I got the highest score,’ but then neglect to tell me that their sister got the highest score also.”

The pair of friendly opponents both achieved the “highest score” on their report cards, as well. The twins will both be graduating first in their class with grade point averages of 4.261.

Dr. Garry Eagles, superintendent of Humboldt County schools, said it has been his honor to know this year’s Class of 2008 — a class that will continue to make an impression on the world as it has already made on him. “Having met and observed a number of our 2008 graduates, I am filled with much hope for America’s future,” he said. “We can be very proud of this year’s graduating class.”

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Hats Off To The Class Of 2008