Twenty-eight

jubilant students received their high school

diplomas Tuesday morning after finishing summer

school at Starr's Mill High.

Fayette

County schools assistant Superintendent Fred

Oliver addressed the students and their families,

borrowing some no-nonsense advice from Microsoft

founder Bill Gates: "Life's not fair; get

used to it. The world will not care about your

self esteem... you won't make $40,000 or $50,000

right out of school... flipping burgers is not

beneath your dignity..." He concluded with a

personal directive, "Life is there for the

taking; grab it today."

The

class of 2000 included Iman Al-Amin, Daniel Tait

Best, Christine Michelle Bevillard, Rico Lamar

Blackmon, Brittany Nicole Brown, Erin Marie

Burley, James Lee Canning, Jennifer Lind Clark,

LizJahn Sabur Clark, Nathan Tainui Clark, Joshua

David Crawford, Matthew Jonathan Elmore, Holly

Ann Gancel, Harriet Hernandez Gates, Spencer Hugh

Hutchison, Kevin Richard Kane, Randall Derek

Knowles, Michael Thomas Lipiatos, David Britt

New, Rekeia Nicole Norwood, Michael Ryan O'Hare,

Joshua Allen Ray, Aisha Lee Rex, Julianne Lee

Scasny, Marcus James Scott, Kelly Lynn Seitz,

Carlos Trumaine Sparks and Jason Joseph Tatum.

The

30-minute ceremony in Duke Auditorium recognized

students from all five high schools, including

the evening high. The graduation robes worn by

the students designated their school colors.

reception honoring the graduates followed in the

hall.

<!--

-----------