By Diane Kortus
Publisher
Today’s paper is among our most important issues of the year. Inside you’ll find the names of every graduating high school senior who attends school in the communities where we deliver our newspapers.
This is the sixth year we’re publishing names of local graduates, and we’re proud to do so. Graduating from high school is a milestone we never forget and one that shapes our lives forever. Honoring our young men and women with their own pull-out section of our paper is something we do at The Laker and Lutz News to help memorialize this momentous occasion for our youth and their families.
Collectively, we are printing 4,299 names of graduates from 14 area high schools. The paper you are holding is one of four unique editions that we publish so we can segment stories and advertisements targeted to your specific neighborhood. It’s our way of delivering news, stories and ads that are most pertinent and important to you.
So, if you live in Land O’Lakes, today’s Laker has the names of graduating seniors from Sunlake, Land O’ Lakes and Wiregrass Ranch high schools — schools zoned for families living in Land O’ Lakes and Pasco Lutz.
If you live in Hillsborough Lutz, your names are kids from Steinbrenner, Gaither, Freedom and Wharton high schools. In Wesley Chapel, graduates are from Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Wharton and Freedom high schools. Over in east Pasco, look for names from Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools.
In addition to students from public schools, there are names of seniors from four private schools: Academy At The Lakes, Land O’ Lakes Christian, Carrollwood Day School and Bishop McLaughlin high schools.
My staff begins gathering names in April from high school principals, assistant principals and guidance counselors. While we get 95 percent of the names and photos of our grads and valedictorians and salutatorians by our deadline, the last week is always hectic, as we do what we can to include every student.
Despite our due diligence, there are always a few high-ranking seniors whose photos and names we do not receive. We hate when this happens and are sorry if any graduate is disappointed because their information did not get to us in time.
As you read today’s paper, it is quickly disappearing from our newsstands as families and friends grab extra copies for scrapbooks and relatives up north. By Friday, it will be nearly impossible to find a copy in any of our 400-plus business locations and newsstands.
In this age of facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, blogs and other social media sites, we still offer kids the thrill of having their name printed in black and white for all to see.
They will be amazed at how their name jumps off the page, even as it is surrounded by hundreds of other names. Their name will be circled or highlighted and proudly shown to parents, siblings, neighbors and friends.
This is why my staff and I believe it is important to publish the names of every graduating senior in our readership area. For most teens, it is likely the first time they will see their name in print. And the feeling they get when they do will be much different than when their name pops up in a facebook dialog or on a Twitter feed.
There’s something about seeing your name in a tangible, public forum that is special. When your name is in the newspaper, those you care about most — family, friends, teachers, neighbors, folks you have known for most your life — will also see it and know you did something good.
Today our readers will be searching the alphabetical listings of our graduation section looking for names of kids they know. And when they see one, they, too, will feel proud and good, because they will know someone they care about made it to graduation and achieved an important goal.
So, as you look through our list of seniors, circle the names of grads you know, call and tell him or her that you saw their name in the paper, and that you are proud of them.
And, if it’s your name in the paper, cut it out and tuck it into a corner of your wallet or purse. And when you come across that clip months from now when you’re looking for something else, it will make you happy and proud all over again.
Graduating from high school is an important milestone, and as your community newspaper, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you. Cherish the moments you’ve had together, for your graduating class will never be together again. Remember, you can accomplish anything you want if you set your mind to it, so hold your head high and enjoy the wonderful journey ahead of you.
