10 a.m., Saturday at the Bell County Expo Center

NUMBER OF GRADUATES: 427

ESTIMATED CROWD: 5,500

GUEST SPEAKER: Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, deployed, by videoconference from Baghdad.

WHAT HE SAID: “I’m wishing you all the best,” said Hammond, who spoke on behalf of those serving in the military with sons and daughters who were graduating. “I know that there are family members with us who wish they were with you this morning.”

“Keep something special on your shoulders,” said Hammond. “It’s very important to have character and the moral courage to do the right thing.”

WHAT THE AUDIENCE WILL REMEMBER: Before Hammond spoke, many attendees were reminded of the troops serving overseas when the Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner were performed. Hammond’s short, encouraging speech was a reminder to everyone that there were many troops serving overseas who are missing some of the most important days in their lives of their family members for the country’s greater good. After Hammond’s speech, many of the speakers who followed him gave thanks to those serving.

WHAT THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT SAID: Before the students lined up and entered the Expo Center’s floor, Temple Independent School District interim Superintendent Dr. Dana Marable addressed audience members via video, asking them to remain quiet during the ceremony, while names were called. However, many parents ignored this warning and cheered loudly, but in a respectful manner so not to disrupt others, when their students were introduced.

In her last act as superintendent, Dr. Marable officially accepted the THS graduating class before the students walked across the stage. On June 1, Dr. Robin Battershell became the TISD superintendent.

COMMENTS FROM CLASS LEADERS: “One thing that I will always remember is Temple 56, Belton 0,” said salutatorian Daniel Pinero-Espinoza, while talking about his four years at THS. Espinoza was referring to THS’s football game against Belton High School in 2007, which he said he had fond memories of attending.

“I’m a raging idealist,” said valedictorian Rachael Petersen to begin her moving speech about the importance of community and civic involvement. “Replace the ‘what is’ with the ‘what could be.’”

MOST HEARTWARMING MOMENT: Roger Odell Patterson, who attended THS in 1968, but left before graduating to join the Army, received his high school diploma. Patterson received one of the loudest applauses of the morning, as the majority of people in attendance stood and cheered as he walked across the stage.

WHAT PARENTS WERE SAYING: “I’m so excited,” said Gerald Norvell Wright, the father of Gerald Glenard Norvell. “We have four kids and he is our last child to graduate.”

“Every ceremony I’ve attended has been different,” said Wright. “I just know that after today a lot of the worries I had about my kids will be done with because they’re all grown up now.”

“Even though we had a son who graduated last year, we’re still excited,” said Debra Krieger, who’s daughter Virginia was graduating. “It’s a very special time in her life.”

At one point of the ceremony, THS principal Jason Bullock asked audience members who were parents and grandparents to stand, and about 85 percent of those in attendance stood as they were cheered by students and officials.

BIGGEST REACTION FROM AUDIENCE: When Espinoza mentioned the Temple-Belton football score from last fall, the audience erupted in noise. Rather ironic, considering the Expo Center is in Belton.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: At most ceremonies, homemade signs seem to be popular among family members, but there were very few in the audience Saturday. Instead most parents yelled their child’s name to let them know where they were sitting, as the students began to enter the floor before walking across the stage.

ONE BUSY LADY: Besides delivering her valedictorian speech, Petersen was also involved in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and participated in the Polyfoniks’ (a school singing group) version of “In My Life” by the Beatles, and “The Irish Blessing,” all before walking across the stage to receive her diploma.

FROM SHORT TO TALL AND A THROUGH Z: Before the commencement began, students were asked to arrive at the Expo Center early so that they could participate in a class graduation photograph. In what looked like an AT&T wireless bars commercial, students met at the south end of the center, where they were placed into a line depending upon their height from shorter students to taller students. Many of the female students exaggerated their height by wearing heels. The students were then asked to remain in their lines for several minutes, until they were escorted to the Expo Center floor, where they were placed on a stage depending upon the line they were in.

After the photo was taken, students were escorted back into the meeting area, where they were placed in alphabetical order depending upon their last name, and brought back out once activities officially began.

“It takes a tremendous amount of coordination to get them in line depending upon their height, then take them back and place them in alphabetical order,” said TISD spokeswoman Regina Baird. “I’m sure everyone who’s helping out will be happy once we get them out on the floor and in their proper seat.”

2008 Temple High School Quick Hits:

2008 National Merit Scholar: 1

2008 National Merit Commended students: 3

2008 National Achievement Award Recipients: 5

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate courses taken by students: 350

AP exams taken by 2008 seniors over high school career: 500

Seniors who are IB Diploma Candidates: 19

Students who are IB certificate candidates: 45

IB certificates anticipated: 205

IB exams taken by seniors over high school career: 205

Dual Credit courses taken by students: 150

Seniors are heading to the following universities:

Out of state: The United State Military Academy at West Point, DePaul University, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Denver, University of Pennsylvania, High Point University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Washington, Brigham Young University, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Christian University, and Howard University.

In state: Rice, Southwestern University, University of Texas (Honors and Plan 2), Texas A&M University, Baylor, SMU, Texas State University, University of North Texas, Concordia Univ., St. Edwards University, Texas Tech, University of Texas-San Antonio, Sam Houston State University, Prairie View A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Howard Payne University, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, Hardin Simmons University, Temple College, Blinn Community College, Austin Community College, Tarleton State University, and Weatherford.