Class of 2007

Jokes, hugs cap Lodi Academy graduation

Lodi Academy's 2007 senior class gathered for the last time Sunday morning at the school's gym to end a three-day graduation celebration.

Seniors in black and white robes and colorful leis took measured steps down the aisle as parents popped out of the crowd of nearly 150 people like paparazzi, looking to snap the perfect photo.

The 29 seniors from Lodi Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist school, took their places on stage, which was decorated with four black, white and blue balloon columns, each topped with a silver Mylar balloon number spelling out "2007."

The seniors' beaming smiles soon turned to tears as class member Maxwell Vogel, 19, sang "Follow Love." Vogel paused halfway through the song, turning his back to the audience and singing the heartfelt goodbye directly to his classmates.

Vogel then introduced physical education teacher and commencement speaker Bill Davis to the stage by strumming his guitar and wailing, "I love my coach." Several seniors chimed in for some impromptu harmonization.

Davis seasoned his speech, a tour of student life from kindergarten up, with an array of inside jokes.

He noted that when seniors hit age 18 they often tell their parents, "I'm 18. I can do what I want."

"It's amazing," Davis quipped. "These people can do whatever they want, but at the same time they do nothing."

Putting jokes aside, Davis used both quotes from the Bible and legendary basketball coach John Wooden to urge his students not to put their life on autopilot and to blaze their own trails instead of following established ones.

"You are each a representative of God. Go and serve his kingdom well," Davis said.

After presenting several dozen awards, faculty members handed out diplomas.

Upon receiving their diploma many students skipped formal handshakes with their educators in favor of celebratory hugs.

Pods of family and friends throughout the crowd erupted in whoops and whistles at the sound of their student's name.

After a short prayer by senior Joshua Koot, principal Doug Brown introduced the class of 2007 to the applause of the crowd and an explosion of streamers.

The graduates immediately attacked each other and members of junior class with silly string, a tradition at Lodi Academy commencements, and filed out of the gym under a tunnel of steamers held by the juniors.

Cameras flashed as students picked silly string out of their eyelashes and congratulated each other on closing another chapter of their lives.

When asked how it felt to graduate senior Brittany Zimmerman, 17, said, "It hasn't hit me yet so I don't know."

Several other seniors echoed Zimmerman's feelings of shock.

"It doesn't feel like reality," said senior Katie Beasley, 18.