Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 19

GRADUATION DAY 2006 A small but determined class By THOMAS C. TOBIN Tlmi StaH Writer CLEARWATER HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING IN CEREMONY: 380 SIZE OF CLASS WHEN IT STARTED HIGH SCHOOL: 836 VALEDICTORIAN: Sarah Stellick CO-SALUTATORIANS: Bradley Hamilton and Grant Jester SPEAKERS: Karins Dillie, senior class president, and Ashley Williams, senior class vice president HOW MANY ARE GOING INTO THE MILITARY: 25 HOW MANY ARE GOING TO COLLEGE: 320 A KODAK MOMENT: A small plane trailing a banner that read: "Congrats Ashley Link CHS 06 We Luv Ul" It circled the school's stadium as graduates walked onto the field to take their seats on the grass as the band played Pomp and CLASS GIFT: Two red metal benches in honor of a deceased teacher to be placed in the Senior Hallway, where students like to gather. EILEEN SCHULTE, Times staff writer 7f Timet photo LARA CERRI PTEC: Early Childhood Education major Candie Jackson gets help with her cap from guidance counselor Nancy Stevens and assistant principal Mark Eriksen. 1 42 shape new futures LARGO The ceremony was short, and so were the speeches. The crowd of about 100 was small enough that the school could offer cookies and soft drinks to the graduates and their families.

But the seven students who received diplomas Wednesday night from Bayside High becoming the first to graduate from the new school were long on perseverance, educators said. principal Philip Wirth told the graduates, "winners are those who were defeated but got up arid gave it one more try." In repeated references to the resilience of Bayside's graduates, educators acknowledged the school's role as a place where students can rebound after a rocky beginning at a traditional high school. Students come to Bayside after performing poorly somewhere else, falling behind in credits, becoming habitual truants or exhibiting poor behavior. Once at Bayside, they can make up for past problems and earn a standard diploma by keeping a average, passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and passing the General Educational Development test The school, at 14405 49th St Iij hnmi 1 Entail- 3k Times photo JOHN PENDYGRAFT BAYSIDE HIGH: Summer Adaris, right, kisses best friend Lauren Brady before the school's first graduation ceremony Wednesday. opened in 2004-05 but did not have a graduating class that year because it was staffed for only the ninth and 10th grades.

This year, with a full staff and a total enrollment of about 350, the school could see its first graduating class climb to 57. Many of the seniors elected to graduate from the schools where they began their high school educations, Wirth said. Others, he said, are expected to receive news in the next few weeks that they passed the GED test and can receive a diploma. The seven students who chose to walk in the first-ever graduation ceremony in Bayside's gym were Summer Adams, Kristine Blanchard, Patrick Corcoran, Talia Hayes, Chad Keck, Kris Krumbie-gel and Justin Sellers. Timet photo KATHLEEN FLYNN CLEARWATER HIGH: Chelsea Kearsley-Brown, 18, gets a hug from her best friend since freshman year, Felipe Garcia, after they graduated from Clearwater High School on Wednesday.

By SHADI RAHIMI Timet Stiff Writer ST. PETERSBURG Brad Bennett used to daydream about another life as he folded shirts in the mens-wear department of Macy's. On Wednesday night, Bennett, 29, took the first step toward his new career as a television cameraman. With 41 other adult students, Bennett received a diploma from the Pinellas Technical Education Centers during a ceremony at Pinellas Park High School. "I'm about to enter a new chapter in my life," he said.

"I'm very nervous, but very excited." Since August 806 students have graduated from the 35 programs offered at the Clearwater and St Petersburg PTEC's, which range from six weeks for nursing to Vh years for drafting. There is life after final exams," Richard Hayes, a graduate of the commercial arts program, said during his commencement speech. Hayes is president of Digital Lightbridge, a Tampa-based firm that ran the marketing campaign for the $260-million Trump Tower Tampa. Many PTEC students don't return for the ceremony. Others, like Valerie Cobb, 23, received their diplomas Wednesday but have until July to complete their programs.

Cobb, a former manager of a movie theater, studied culinary arts. "I'm nervous, but I'm prepared to work my way up to chef," she said. COUNTRYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING IN CEREMONY: 392 SIZE OF CLASS WHEN IT STARTED HIGH SCHOOL: 856 VALEDICTORIAN: Kurt Ciell SALUTATORIAN: Xinyu Nan SPEAKEfS: Gerald Schlereth, the school's principal, gave the welcome. Ciell provided the valedictory oration. Sarah E.

Serra gave the senior class president's address. BEST QUOTES: "They all look so much alike An elderly woman after seeing the class in its burgundy robes and caps with yellow tassels. Ciell noted the robes graduates were wearing, saying, "Garnet is not my color I prefer black." He later thanked his classmates for "tolerating me" for four years. His inspirational message: "Duh. You can't get the job if you don't apply.

You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket." He predicted: "I'll be famous." CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: More than half will attend college. BEHIND THE SCENES: Teachers and staff who were not involved in making sure the kids were in place on time set up tables in the school's concourse for a postgraduation luncheon. Table decorations included sea shells, plastic sand pails and shovels and a plastic starfish. The graduation was held on the school's football field with a sound system that, combined with crowd noise, made it almost impossible to hear the speakers. KODAK MOMENT: Parents clustered at the entrance to the field to take pictures and grab a final hug before their children stepped out to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance.

CLASS GIFT: Money to upgrade library resources and furniture. Library tables are currently made from reused doors. ANNE LINDBERG, Times staff writer Time photo TED McLAREN COUNTRYSIDE HIGH: With his diploma freshly in hand, Hoang Duy Phan calls out to his friends Wednesday during graduation. Carefiree Mmng at Lifecare apartments from $48,000 with a $1000 monthly service fee 2 Year CD 5.50 1 Year CD 5.25r Rolling over an IRA? Check out our other great rates. Links.

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