Mercedes seniors celebrate graduation

MERCEDES — It was a night of thanks at the Mercedes High School commencement ceremonies Saturday.

As the graduates walked onto the stage in their orange caps and gowns, their families and friends in the audience stood up and cheered.

The smiling seniors returned the gesture. At the beginning of the commencement at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show arena, the graduates stood from their seats to show their thanks to their families.

"You're here today because of several people, but mostly you're here because of your family," Superintendent of Schools Walter Watson said.

The ceremony was moved from Tiger Stadium to the livestock show grounds because of the possibility of rain. But the change didn't put a dent in the excitement that surrounded the event.

"I'm excited, emotional," said graduate Joel Ruiz as he sat with his classmates and waited for the ceremony to begin. "I'm going to miss the cool teachers, hanging out with my friends."

"And the free lunches," he added with a laugh.

Ruiz said he plans to attend South Texas College to pursue an associate's degree in nursing.

He said he loves all of his fellow graduating seniors and will miss them.

Another graduating senior, Nelly Cardenas, said she was excited to be graduating, but nervous.

"I'm going to miss everything," Cardenas said. "My friends, my teachers, being at school."

Cardenas plans to attend the University of Texas at Brownsville and hopes to one day become an accountant, she said.

After the presentation of the colors, the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and the invocation, Selena Parra, the senior class president, welcomed everyone to the graduation ceremony.

She described the event as bittersweet because she's happy to be graduating, but sad as she remembered the memories she has of high school.

Both the salutatorian, Homero Werbiski, and the valedictorian, Ingelise Johnson, gave speeches that expressed their gratitude towards the influential people in their lives.

"We are finally here," Johnson said. "After four years of hard work and effort, four years of busy schedules and late night research papers. We are graduating tonight but we could not have done it alone."

They both thanked family, friends and faculty.

"Good luck class of 2008," Werbiski said. "Hopefully I'll see you guys in the future."