Graduates ready for weekend
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Celebrations and ceremonies for the graduating classes of 2008 in Ellis County will begin in earnest this weekend, starting with the recognition for Kennedy Middle School eighth-graders Friday night and continuing through May 25 for Thomas More Prep-Marian High School seniors.
In between, there will be commencements for post-secondary students as well.
Ellis High School's graduation is set for Saturday, the same day as commencement ceremonies for Fort Hays State University and North Central Kansas Technical College.
And Victoria High School and Hays High School both are Sunday afternoon.
The eighth-grade recognition night for Felten Middle School is set for Tuesday, while eighth-graders from Washington Elementary School will be promoted Monday, and Victoria Middle School will have graduation ceremonies Wednesday.
Saturday's VHS graduation will be the last as principal for Mike Kreller, who is retiring this year after 23 years at Victoria.
Kreller said that while he will miss going to school every day, something he's done for the past 30 years, he plans to get his fix by substitute teaching in the area.
John Linn, business and computer teacher at Victoria the past six years, has been hired to replace Kreller, whose last day will be June 13.
"(Linn) and I have been working together the last two or three weeks and will continue to until I leave," Kreller said.
"It will be a smooth transition, and I think John will do a great job."
Following are times and locations of the Ellis County graduation ceremonies:
Middle school
Hays-Kennedy -- Friday: recognition, 7:30 p.m., FHSU's Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center; dance and reception, 9:30 p.m., Kennedy gym.
Hays-Felten -- Tuesday: recognition, 7 p.m., FHSU's Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center; dance and reception, 9 p.m., Felten gym.
Victoria -- Wednesday: graduation and awards, 7 p.m., Victoria High auditorium.
Ellis-Washington -- Monday: promotion, 7:30 p.m., Ellis High gym.
High school
Ellis -- Saturday: graduation, 2 p.m., EHS gym. Speaker: Stan Faulkender, long-time art teacher at EHS who is retiring this year.
Hays High -- Sunday: baccalaureate 1:30 p.m., 12th Street Auditorium; graduation, 3:30 p.m., Speaker: Ron Leikam, social studies teacher, voted on by senior class.
Victoria -- Sunday: baccalaureate, 10:30 a.m., St. Fidelis Church; graduation, 1 p.m., high school auditorium. Speakers: seniors Austin Gagnon and Christine Leikam, selected by senior class.
TMP-Marian -- May 25: baccalaureate, 10 a.m., Al Billinger Fieldhouse; graduation, 2 p.m., Al Billinger Fieldhouse. Speakers: TMP-Marian alumni Michelle Wessling and David Schramm.
Post secondary
Fort Hays State University -- Saturday: commencement, 10 a.m., Gross Memorial Coliseum. Speaker: Jery Boettcher, member of Kansas Board of Regents.
NCK Technical College -- Saturday: nursing pinning, 1:30 p.m., FHSU's Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center; graduation, 3 p.m., Beach/Schmidt. Speaker: Phyllis LaShell, regional workforce recruiting specialist, Kansas Department of Commerce.
