June 1, 2002
Terrebonne High School graduates 271
Terrebonne High graduate April Hatch smiles to the audience during the school’s commencement Friday night at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center. JONATHAN COHEN/THE COURIER
Amid a standing-room-only crowd of family, teachers and well wishers at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 271 Terrebonne High School seniors received diplomas Friday night.
It was Terrebonne High’s 94th commencement. And, as many honor graduates spoke of the varied routes each took to the same moment, co-valedictorian Roy Louis Bergeron Jr. encouraged his classmates to break away from the norms of society.
"Be true to yourself," said Bergeron, who offered several tips on individuality.
"Laugh at boring people," he told his classmates. "Wear two different color socks. Sleep at the foot of the bed. Talk to yourself in public. Surround yourself with different people and argue with them regularly.
"And never ever let anyone call you strange," he said. "Good luck, everyone."
Benjamin McElroy, president of Terrebonne’s Class of 2002, urged his classmates to be leaders and become involved in the community.
"Don’t go through life as a spectator," he said. "Today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present."
Terrebonne Parish School Board President John Pizzolatto praised each and every graduate.
"As you go on to higher education or into the business world, you will take the education you received from Terrebonne Parish with you," he said. "I know you will be successful because you are already successful. You are a graduate."
Liz Scurto, Terrebonne Parish schools superintendent, relayed advice from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Powell said "there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failures," she said.
Scurto called the graduating class a group of "outstanding young men and women who will be our local, state and federal leaders of tomorrow."
Shortly after Scurto’s address, local Judge Advocate Carlos Lazarus presented two American Legion Awards on behalf of Lenox Hotard Post No. 31 to Doug Bourg and Ashley Poiencot.
Draped in maroon and gold cap and gowns, the entire class then stood and sang the class song, "Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."
Forty-nine graduated with a state Board of Regents Scholar Award. Of those award recipients, 42 were members of the National Honor Society, and 19 received honors from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Eight students shared valedictorian honors: Bergeron, Brandie Bour, Kimberly Elliot, Amanda Fidler, Nikki Le Herring, Michelle Lambert, Jennifer Quick and Jessica Quick.
