DALTON — “Congratulations Class of 2009. We did it!” said Abby Barnett, Student Council President of Sonoraville High School this year.

Barnett, who gave the official welcome on behalf of the graduates, and the other 211 members of the Class of 2009 are the second graduating class at SHS but the first to go through all four years at the school.

Valedictorian Jerome Dodd and Salutatorian Anna Lynch drew laughs from a large audience of classmates, family and friends at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton with a bantering dialogue recalling the past four years.

But the two top students also had serious words for their classmates

“As our country calls for change, we, the graduating class of 2009, must meet the challenge. As we embark upon our journey through life, we should remember the words of our newly elected president, Barack Obama: ‘Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek,’” Dodd said

“We can no longer wait on our parents or family members to take us to school, wake us up, make our lunches, remind us of deadlines and homework assignments, or wait on us hand and foot,” Lynch said. “We need to change!”

“As seniors we experienced rising gas prices and the worst economy since the Great Depression, which will continue to affect us all for years to come,” Dodd said.

“Nevertheless, we have also experienced some wonderful changes. We became the Phoenix! In fact, we are the first graduating class to attend SHS all four years,” said Lynch..

“I’m a convert!” said Dodd. Lynch replied, “And by convert, you mean someone who has changed their character or beliefs. Right Jerome?”

“Yeah! Even though I started out as a Warrior, I am a full-fledged Phoenix now! I became aware that my life as a warrior was going to be short-lived, so I made the best choice….. to become a Phoenix!” Dodd said.

“And as the Phoenix, we have experienced changes in many areas,” Lynch continued. “As freshmen, we didn’t understand school spirit. We didn’t know if we were the Phoenix, Phoenixes, or Phonei, but we finally realized that school spirit is not just about a name, but about loyalty to your school. The years of school spirit have paid off. Who can forget the winning seasons we have had in many of our sports.” Dodd added, “And don’t forget all the winners in extracurricular activities like FBLA, Skills USA, band and other groups.”

Principal Bruce Potts said there was a special significance to the fact that 212 seniors were graduating, pointing out that Sonoraville High uses the term “the 212th degree” to signify extra effort. “At 211 degrees, water is hot; at 212 degrees it is boiling,” Potts said. “When water boils, it makes steam and steam is powerful.”

Potts read off a long list of individuals and groups that exemplified the 212th degree before the graduates received their diplomas. “Class of 2009, live this moment and enjoy every second,” he said. “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “A Gaelic Blessing.” The Color Guard of the National Guard 108th RISTA Battalion, which is being deployed to Afghanistan, presented the colors.