Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 23, 2002

 At left, Abby STEPHENS, daughter of John and Karen STEPHENS of Diagonal, was valedictorian of the Diagonal Community High School Class of 2002.

At right, Shauna KILGORE, daughter of Larry and Melody KILGORE of Diagonal, was the salutatorian of the Diagonal Community High School Class of 2002.

  A large class of 16 students were graduated in the ceremony of graduation exercises held Friday night at the Diagonal Community high school south gymnasium. Mike McGRADY, former writer for the New York Times spoke to the graduates as well as class valedictorian Abby STEPHENS and class salutatorian Melody KILGORE.

McGRADY, a syndicated columnist, is from Lilliwaup, WA, a town that senior class member Wes STARLIN learned about in an elementary school class project back in 1993. He struck up a friendship with people in the community and was named the coummunity's first "honorary Lilliwaupian" by the community club last year. McGRADY accepted the invitation to come to STARLIN'S small Iowa town to share "A Tale of Two Small Towns." McGRADY shared words of wisdom, much having to do with surviving in the world -- such as "when you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Class Motto: The higher we rise, the better the view."

Class Flower: maroon rose and black rose tipped with silver.

Larry TEPLY presented the class of 2002, noting that all 16 have plans of furthering their education next year. Board president Mont STARLIN presented the diplomas.

Members of the Class of 2002 are:

Charles R. ANDREWS, Andrea Lee BENTLEY, Shane Michael BERGER, Jose Richard CASTERLAN, Galiena Marie COOK, Kathryn June COOKE, Wesley N. COOPER, Steven J. GRACE, Shauna Marie KILGORE, Christopher Jay KUONEN, Justin W. KUONEN, Leslie Rachelle MOFFITT, Jennifer Lynn SOBOTKA, Jason M. STAMPS, Wesley Adam STARLIN and Abby Lynn STEPHENS.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2012