167 grads bid farewell to Rayen

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For coverage of Chaney's graduation, click here

The senior class has
secured more than $1.3
million in scholarships.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rayen School graduating Class of 2007 got a nickname Friday — "The Omega Class."

Omega means "last" in Greek, and this is the last class to graduate from Rayen, which will be torn down this summer, but it doesn't mean the end for the 167 graduates.

Look forward to the next step in your life, don't fear it, said William Aponte, class president, in his address to his peers.

"Graduation is the beginning of our adult lives," added Cecilia Ronco, class co-salutatorian.

"Make wise decisions as you have up to now," said Jaquala Riggins, co-salutatorian. "We have come a long way. Don't stop now."

"This is far from the end. This is the first phase of the rest of your life," added Lakeisha Jarmon, class valedictorian.

Attitude is the key to success, more important than anything else, said the Rev. Kenneth Donaldson, the commencement speaker and a 1986 Rayen graduate, as well as the new pastor of Rising Star Baptist Church.

"Young people, this is your day, your chance to make a difference," he said, telling them to remain focused on their dreams.

It won't be easy, he said. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress."

Dreams

Many of those in the class have dreams of going on to college and other post-secondary education.

It was announced that the senior class has amassed $1,372,000 in scholarships so far.

One of the benefits of being the last class to graduate from Rayen was an exemption to the rule that class members aren't allowed to toss their mortarboards into the air at the close of the ceremony.

The Class of 2007 did it, with the school's blessing, said Principal Henrietta Williams.

Several hundred members of the graduates' families turned out for commencement ceremonies at Stambaugh Auditorium, and their enthusiasm was evident.

Family affair

Ashley Clayton, a member of Rayen's Class of 2003, had orange and black curls in her hair, matching the Rayen colors.

"It's a wig," she said after the ceremony, adding that she was there to show support for her brother, Aaron Bankston, of the Class of 2007.

Graduating from Rayen was part of a family affair for them.

Both Aaron's dad Eric Bankston (1984) and mom Pamela Rue (1989), as well as aunts Sandra Tate (1977) and Jackie Turner, (1981) were Tigers.

"This is the last class of Rayen. We had to be here for it," Tate said. She now lives in Columbus, Turner lives in Ashtabula and Eric Bankston is in Colorado. Rue still lives in Youngstown.

There were three generations of the Joseph Clark family at the ceremony, including grandfather, Joseph Clark Sr.; dad and mom, Joseph and Debra Clark Jr. of Columbus; and Class of 2007 graduate Jade Clark, who said it was exciting to be a member of the last class from Rayen.

All were smiling and posing for pictures.

Brother Joseph Clark III, also a Rayen graduate and now a student at Ohio State University, was also there to wish his sister well.

gwin@vindy.com

Saturday, June 9, 2007