Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 11

Tuesday, May 27, 1997 Star Tnbune 83 THEN: Anticipation at childhood's end Continued from HI his own, he said, because lie never took a vacation to go home his entire stay there. Because everything was so structured at the school, "they told us what to do, when to do it and how to do it." Hamilton said he was busier thinking, "Thank God, I'm free!" when graduation rolled around than In: was about specific plans for his future. Hamilton did however, have a scholarship to play football at the University of Wyoming, where he later graduated with a degree in physical education and a masters' degree in counseling. "Kids have to realize that you never stop jumping through the hoops," Hamilton said. "Hut you have to keep a good attitude that you will do what it takes to get he job done," Some might say being elected Senior Class president could be an indicator of a future political career, but former Governor Mike Sullivan, now an attorney in Casper at Brown, Drew, Massey and Sullivan, is doubtful about his reign as president at Converse County High School in Douglas.

"My time as president must not have been too distinguished, for I remember nothing of it," Sullivan said. Besides quietly beginning his political career, Sullivan was busy spending his time joy-riding in a friend's convertible, playing sports and "developing a sincere interest in girls." When he graduated from the small town high school in 1957 he was a little scared by the "exciting and mysterious" world that awaited him, and he wondered if he had what it took to get along in the real world. Because his strengths were in math and science, Sullivan headed off to the University of Wyoming and studied his way to a degree in petroleum engineering. But before he had completed his studies, Sullivan decided that petroleum engineering wasn't what he really wanted to do. Once his degree was completed, Sullivan began law school, also at the University of Wyoming.

Randy Lewis was one of those kids who knew most of the answers when the question was related to math or science. Lewis, now a professor of molec like her childhood was coming to an end. She was going leave behind roller skating and ice-skating ami lie an adult "I was a little apprehensive. You knew that you had to get married, go to school or get a job," she said. Initially Taucher went the employ ment route, and took a job as a secretary at a car dealership where she worked for several years.

Then, five years out of high school, Taucher mar tied Leonard Taucher, a geologist. Laughing in a quiet voice, Taucher downplayed her role as a housewife, claiming all she does is scrub floors. A while later, however, Taucher admits there is a lot more to running a household. "All in all my life has ended up very well. It's turned out like 1 hoped it would," she said.

Small town boys do small town things, and Governor Jim Geringer said he wasn't an exception back in his high school days. Geringer, who graduated from Wheat land High School in 19(52, said he spent his free time doing things like drag racing down Main Street. He might have also been found at a beer party or two, "typical of a 18-year-old testing authority." Graduating high school and going to college was a big deal to Geringer, who was the first in his family to go on to college. "There was a lot of anticipation. It seemed the whole world was at your door step," he said.

Geringer, who has been through four career changes, said he never would have anticipated his political career because when he was in high school he had no political aspirations. Looking back on the career changes in his life, from engineering to involvement in the NASA space program, to farming and now to politics, Geringer offered advice to students, saying they should set their sights high, but expect change. "You should pick your own path based on a good fundamental set of values," he said, and then added that people should be careful to "not be guided by selfish motivations, but by a serving motivation." ular biology at the University of Wyoming, graduated second in his class at Powell High School in 19(58. Lewis was aware of his scholastic talents, and decided his senior year to leave his small home town and attend the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena, Calif. "Leaving Wyoming and going to one of the more prestigious schools in the country for science was a pretty big jump," he said.

You don't have to be a college professor or a scientist to understand the importance of keeping an open mind. Lewis said he believes maintaining flexibility is an important trait, and has changed the focus of his own career at least three times. Originally, Lewis intended to be a mathematician. Scholarships made the difference in Kathy Karpan's college career. Karpan graduated from Rawlins High School in 19(50 without a clear path for her future.

On graduation night, Karpan said she remembers wondering what her future would be. She knew she was going to receive a Wyoming legislative scholarship, but she didn't know if she would be able to afford college. The final decision was "still up in the air." Then Karpan learned she was the recipient of a scholarship from a hometown hank, which "made the difference" in her decision to go to college. With both scholarships, worries about paying for room and board were lightened and Karpan knew she was going to be able to attend the University of Wyoming. Years later, Karpan said she still remembers how honored and proud she felt that some of her extended family drove to Rawlins, her hometown, to cheer her on during graduation.

Looking hack at the experiences of her own life, Karpan said she thinks positive reinforcement and the support of family are important for students in all kinds of situations. While growing up in Wyoming, Karpan said she used to daydream about politics and journalism. "I thought politics was a noble calling and could bring out the best in people," she said. Karpan, who said she spent a lot of her time taking care of her family when she was younger said she had "a lot of scribed "kid at heart," knew all along she wanted to be a teacher. It's her "passion to do things for kids," she said, but she never imagined being on the policy making side of the game.

Catchpole graduated from Cody High School in 19(52. Thinking back to her high school days, Catchpole questions if she even knew her job existed. "The truth of the matter is, I'm wondering if when I was in high school if I even knew we luut a state superintendent," she said. Catchpole calls high school graduation, "a great time to pause and say, 'wow, look at what we've done so far in our lives." She cautioned that to be successful and move upward, today's students must never stop being students of life. "You have a personal responsibility for life-long learning," she said.

Dick Cheney, chairman and CEO of Halliburton Company, graduated from Natrona County High School in 1959 without any idea of the political life he was going to live. He was 18, "footloose and fancy-free" and not overly concerned with his future. "I hadn't really given it a whole heck of a lot of thought," he said while thinking back on the workings of his young mind and plans for the future. Cheney was recruited by Yale University and given a scholarship, but, "was not a dedicated student at 19" and flunked out. After spending some time laying power and electrical transmission lines, Cheney decided it was time to go back to school and get married to his high school sweetheart.

It was a move he said had a big impact on his outlook and jump-started him to get serious and "make something" of himself. After studying briefly at Casper Community College, he finished his degrees at the University of Wyoming. Cheney went on to become President Gerald Ford's chief of staff, was elected to the House of Representatives and was named Secretary of Defense under President George Hush. In 1948, when the end of her senior year was in sight at Rock Springs High School, Millie Taucher said she felt pent up interest in the outside world," but never dreamed the president of the United States would announce his in tentions to nominate her as the Director of the Office of Surface Mining. Karpan was an unsuccessful Wyoming senatorial candidate, and served as secretary of state for eight years.

Before that she was director of health and social services under then-Gov. Ed Ilerschler. Recalling her family history, Karpan said it is amazing to think that her grandfathers immigrated to the United States to work in the coal mines and now she has been nominated to a position to control the business. "I was like any other stupid girl in that period of time, I thought you got married, you had children and you lived in a nice-like house with a white picket fence around it," said Casper's Linda Burkhart. Burkhart, who graduated from Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nev.

in 19(57 said she would have died laughing if someone had tried to tell her she would become known as an environmental activist and win News week's 1988 Hero of the Year award. She now does environmental consulting at home. Even though she was taught to always stand up for what she believed in, Burkhart said she didn't really understand what that meant until much later. "I think that when you're young you have some dumb ideas about what life-is all about," she said. Once Burkhart began to realize what "life was all about," she said she got out of her "white picket fence syndrome" and into environmental activism, a move she never would have expected because she used to believe that "protesters were radical maniacs," and "hippies were the low-lives of the world." Although Burkhart doesn't classify herself as a hippie, she said she does know something about activism.

"I don't have long hair or hold flowers or anything, but I certainly understand what protesting is about," she said. Judy Catrhpole, state superintendent of public instruction, and a self de Wyoming High School Commencements 1997 360 graduates Casper Natrona County High School Top 1 percent: William Law, Jessica Lol-ley, Elizabeth Padgett, Tiffany Smath-ers. 402 graduates Casper Roosevelt High School Outstanding female student: Heather Clark Outstanding male student: John Wag-nor Most improved female student: Erin Hochstein Most improved male student: Damion Jessup 22 graduates Cheyenne Central High School 9 4.0 graduates 62 honor graduates, 3.75 GPA or higher 369 graduates Cheyenne East High School 14 4.0 graduates 47 honor graduates, 3.75 GPA or higher 400 graduates Cheyenne High School III Valedictorian: Not applicable Salutatorian: Not applicable 53 graduates Chugwater High School Valedictorian: Julia Wilkerson Salutatorian: Carrie Wedemeyer 8 graduates Cody High School Valedictorian: Not available Salutatorian: Not available 197 graduates Cokeville High School Valedictorian: Jennie Sorensen Salutatorian: Meaghan Thompson 23 graduates Crook County High School IV Valedictorian: Not applicable Salutatorian: Not applicable 4 graduates Dayton Tongue River High School Valedictorian: Jared Wolney Salutatorian: Josh Hamilton 31 graduates Douglas High School Valedictorian: Eric Suchomel Salutatorian: Amanda Sutphin 116 graduates Dubois High School Valedictorian: Kristi Ballinger Salutatorian: Tamera Dillon 22 graduates Encampment High School Valedictorian: Heather Jacobsen Afton Star Valley High School Valedictorian: Teresa Humphreys Salutatorians: ReirJ Allred. Jeanette Hein-er 189 graduates Albin High School Valedictorian: Becky Johnson Salutatorian: Danna Sorensen 13 graduates Arvada Clearmont High School Valedictorian: Christine Carlock Salutatorian: Kelli Goodman 3 graduates Baggs Little Snake River Valley High School Valedictorian: James Sewell Salutatorian: Brandy Pearson 24 graduates Basin Riverside High School Valedictorian: Kimberlee Sue Baxter Salutatorian: Diane Michelle Hamilton 42 graduates Big Horn High School ValedictonanSalutatorian: Brian Bishop, Megan Fudge ValedictorianSalutatonan: Brian Bish op, Megan Fudge 23 graduates Big Piney High School Valedictorian: Heidi Graham Salutatorian: Naomi Priddis 56 graduates Buffalo High School Valedictorians: Juliene Beth Bean. Jacob Lee Brooks, Rebecca Mane Elliot, Tye Thomas Fox.

David Dominique Iverson, Julie Ann Jarvis, Alecia Marie Johnson, Fjryn Colleen O'Gan. Cody Ann Thorn Salutatorian: Jessica Lynn Wohlbrandt 83 graduates Burlington High School Co-ValedictonansJud Preator, Patricia Winters Salutatorian: Amber Dobson 28 graduates Burns High School Co-Valedictorians; Cara Adnenne Cooper. James Robert Hayes Salutatorian: Jessica Regan Arnold 39 graduates Byron Rocky Mountain High School Tri Valedictorians: Casey Crosby. Shan non Lee. Peter Sanders Salutatorian: Jodie Harper 37 graduates Casper Kelly Walsh High School Valedictorians- Douglas Ormsbv.

Elizabeth Lowham. Kelry Walker. Misty Anne Keilch Salutatorians: Dustin Crull. Laura Parks. Vivian Luio Kaycee High School Co-Valedictorians: Sara Campbell, Elizabeth Hanson Salutatorian: Matthew Vercimak 21 graduates KemmererHigh School Valedictorian: Brian Harwood Salutatorians: Laura Laird, Kami Walton 74 graduates Lander Valley High School Top 12 Students: Lindy Marie Johnson, Shelly Marie Dove, Kimberly Ann Ko-priva.

Marie Annette McFarland Hor-necker, Amy Ann Berry, Jennifer Bills, Tyler John Chubb, Preston D. Anesi, Julie Frances Nelson, Xylina Erin Warren-Laird, Christina Marie Crane, Trisha Jo West. 124 graduates Laramie Senior High School Valedictorians: Amber Anderson, Kacy Atkinson, Hillary Basom, Sherry Bath, Emily Bowman, Michelle Cavalli, Aaron Frude, Evan Gerking, Christopher Greller, John Hohnholz, Abid Husain, Scott Jones, Matthew Melinkovich, Kathy Menkhaus, Tonie Miyamoto, Rebekah Monroe. Katherine Orr, Ryan Rayda, Dana Robertson, Tanya Schimek, Lisa Sims, Michelle Terrell. Chris Van Kirk, Isabella Way.

269 graduates Lingle-Ft. Laramie High School Valedictorian: Josh Sandlian Salutatorian: Jared Good 30 graduates Lovell High School Valedictorian: Kan Armstrong, Kelli Pollock. Tamara Prostrollo. Sarah Pax-ton Salutatorian: Natalie Hessenthaler 47 graduates Lusk Niobrara County High School Valedictorian: Travis Shoults Salutatorian: James Kruse 31 graduates Lyman High School Valedictorian: Richard Aaron Zobell Co Salutatorians: Jaren Glen Crawford. Zachery Keith Rasmussen 95 graduates Medicine Bow High School Valedictorian: Kristie Cowdin Salutatorian: Barry Rudd 12 graduates Meeteetse High School Valedictorian: Chancy Leath Salutatorian: Erica Larsen 13 graduates Midwest High School Valedictorian: Samantha Kner Salutatorian: Teresa Malson 20 graduates Sheridan Three Peaks Christian School Valedictorian: Not applicable Salutatorian: Not applicable 2 graduates Shoshoni High School Valedictorian: Andrea Haggerty Salutatorian: Tyler Jordan 23 graduates St.

Stephens High School Valedictorian: Lorenza Monroe 16 graduates Sundance High School Valedictorians: Shannon Smith, Brittany Wales. Whitney Rogers. Ben Tonak. Bryan Sharp Salutatorian: Jennifer Geis 51 graduates Ten Sleep High School Valedictorian: Jemimah Palsce' Salutatorian: Kristen Gossens 13 graduates Thermopolis Hot Springs County High School Co-Valedictorians: Cody McLean. Stacey Nelson Salutatorian: Mark Nitschke 56 graduates Torrington High School Valedictorian: Dodi DesEnfants Salutatorian: Meghan Collins 107 graduates Upton High School Valedictorian: Mindy Barritt Salutatorian: Beth Fowler 28 graduates Wheatland High School Tri-Valedictorians: Josh Loveland.

Erin Cook. Shannon Benjamin 85 graduates Wilson Bar Ranch Valedictorian: Not applicable Salutatorian: Not applicable 4 graduates Worland High School Valedictorian: Heather Marie Davis. El-lie Gebarowski-Shafer. Bnttany Rocheiie Mitchell, Thomas Paul Scott. Benjamin Bradley Wilde.

Salutatorians: Robin Kelly Barnes. Nathaniel Francis. Summer Diane Jack son. Jana RacheUe McKamey. 128 graduates Wright High School Valedictorian: Andrew Miller Salutatorian: Benjamin Decker 46 graduates Yoder Southeast High School Valedictorian: Dustin Ludwig Salutatorian: Jamie Mehhng 19 graduates Salutatorian: Jill Greenwood 12 graduates Ethete Wyoming Indian High School Valedictorian: Crystal LeBeau Salutatorian: Nicole Sage 38 graduates Evanston High School Top 5: Margaret Flake, Erica Warlick, Beth Yuvancic, Kelli Demander, Chad Hughes 218 graduates Farson-Eden High School Valedictorian: Codi Lee Burris Salutatorian: Sara Jean Marie Mines 21 graduates Gillette Campbell County High School Valedictorian: Kate Hannifan Salutatorian: Kristie Aarsby 488 graduates Glendo High School Valedictorian: Alicia Underwood Salutatorian: Tara Himle 8 graduates Glenrock High School Top 10 percent: Jeremy Bennington, Seth Ramsey, Melissa Reed, Jason Rein hardt, Mike Woodberry, Matt Yung.

52 graduates Green River High School Valedictorian: Not available Salutatorian: Not available 238 graduates Greybull High School Valedictorians: Sydney Urbach, Sarah Johnson, Heidi Thorn and Scott Close Salutatorian: Sharon Tranas 45 graduates Guernsey-Sunrise High School Valedictorian: Dan Sisson Salutatorian: Jake McCord 19 graduates Hanna-Elk Mountain High School Valedictorian: Rogena Loveland Salutatorian: Jeri Munns 13 graduates Hulett High School Valedictorian: Angela Lmdeman Salutatorian: Brandy Bohl 33 graduates Jackson Hole High School Co Valedictorians: Sean Stauth. Amy Forbes 116 graduates Jeffrey City High School Valedictorian: Mndv Mcintosh 1 graduate Moorcroft High School Valedictorian: Mike Jespersen Salutatorian: Candy Jo Wondercheck 35 graduates Mountain View High School Valedictorian: Ben Palmer Salutatorians: Dylan Argyle. Dallas Overy 66 graduates Newcastle High School Valedictorian: Dessa Taylor Salutatorian: Christopher Reimer 67 graduates Pavillion Wind River High School Valedictorian: Leigh Jacobson Salutatorian: Misty Sims 31 graduates Pine Bluffs High School Valedictorian: April Klinginsmith Salutatorian: Amy Manley 31 graduates Pinedale High School Top 4: Molly Huffman. Eron McLaughlin, Landi Rooks, Kristin Storrud 36 graduates Powell High School Tri-Valedictorians: Dustin James Foster. Jamie Kaye Lynn, Andrew Craig Whit-lock Salutatorian: Julie Rae Roby 103 graduates Rawlins High School Valedictorians: Megan Hitchcock, Kyle Norman, Craig Smith Salutatorians: Michelle Miller, Mia Sjogren, Tina Stanley 155 graduates Riverton High School Co-Valedictorians: Peter Ballou.

Kara Calvert, Michael Carratini, Andrea Eicke. Jared Harrison, Michelle Higgins. Paul Medina. Cypthia Reed. Jennifer Rivera.

Pamela Swick. April Tolman. Joseph Vasco. 210 graduates Rock River High School Valedictorian: Sommer Emerson Salutatorian: Cara Page 6 graduates Rock Springs High School Valedictorian: Marcus Cunningham Salutatorian: Terrance Thiel 292 graduates Saratoga High School Co-Valedictorians: Wendy Hill. Jeremy Williams 34 graduates Sheridan High School Valedictorian: Lisa Grooms Salutatorian: Rebekah Tromble 260 graduates.