By Lisa Magers/CISD Community Services

Forty-one Cleburne TEAM School graduates received their diplomas in ceremonies held Friday afternoon at Field Street Baptist Church.

Jacob Huffman, a member of the May 22 graduating class, was named valedictorian for the 2008-09 school year. Noemi Torres, who participated in fall graduation ceremonies held Dec. 19, was salutatorian.

Members of the TEAM School spring graduating class are Jorge Alcala, Manuel Alvarado, Chrystal Beasley, Josh Bell, Rio Berriochoa, Jeremy Campbell, Carl Collins, Aaron Crawford, Ashley Davis, Elizabeth Fernandez, Lauren Flack, Greg Flynn, KeeLee Fowler, Maurice Freeman, Betzabel Garcia, Christopher Garcia, Amber Harp, Taylor Houghton, Jacob Huffman, Kierstene King, Justin Kratz, Brittnie Lee, John Lopez, Corbin Lowrie, Victoria “Tori” Marshall, Tiffany McDonald, Patric Milam, Amanda Monk, Martin Moreno, Alexandria Moya, Taylor Murphy, Tim Murray, Reyzki Nauli, Kayla O’Pry, Nathan Shearon, Cody Smith, Martin Sosa, Scott Storey, Brad Taylor, Gracie Wallace and Alissa Zachary.

“Today is your commencement, but really it’s a beginning,” said CISD school board Trustee M.J. Larrison, guest speaker for the event. “It’s okay if you’re not sure where you’ll exactly be going from here. You can still move on, set goals and accomplish them.”

Larrison, in her first term on the board, told the graduates that when she was their age she had to fight for one special goal she had set for herself.

“I really wanted to do architectural drafting and drawing in high school,” Larrison said. “But I was told ‘no,’ it was for boys only. As a 17-year-old girl, I went in front of the seven men who were on the school board and pleaded my case.”

“I was told that being in drafting class was no place for a young lady,” she said. “I told them I would prove them wrong, and I did. I also went on to study drafting in college.”

“If you think you can’t do something, you’ve already lost the battle. Dream your dreams. Don’t let people put you down and tell you to prove yourself. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve proven yourself today by being on this stage.”

Before the presentation of diplomas, several members of both the fall and spring graduating classes were announced as recipients of scholarship endowments.

Receiving $300 Billie Nell Story Scholarship awards were May graduates Chrystal Beasley, Maurice Freeman, Taylor Murphy and Kevin Loflin, a Dec. 19 graduate.

Greg Flynn received the $500 Rock Flynn Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of the graduate’s grandfather, a proponent of education and family values.

Chrystal Beasley, Maurice Freeman, Christopher Garcia, Taylor Houghton, Jacob Huffman, Tori Marshall, Alexandria Moya and Cody Smith received the Early Graduation Texas Scholarship.

All 41 of TEAM School’s most recent graduates are eligible for $200 scholarships provided by Friendship Circle of King’s Daughters, a longtime adopter of TEAM School.

Graduates Tim Murray and Patrick Milam received a standing ovation with the announcement by Principal Georgeann Storm that they will ente the Marine Corps in June.

Dr. Darlene Callender, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, presented the graduates with their diplomas.

“Congratulations on being the support systems these kids needed,” Callender told the family members and friends. “These graduates met a great goal in being here today. Their perseverance paid off.”