June 15, 2009
Nine seniors in the Ocracoke School Class of 2009 received their diplomas on Sunday evening, June 14, during ceremonies at the school.

The class valedictorian of the class is Michelle Dawn Cartwright, and the salutatorian is Tristan Harm Bennink.

Speaker at the ceremony was Marissa Anne O’Neal Gross.

Diplomas were awarded by Principal George Ortman and Gregory Todd, superintendent of Hyde County Schools.

The graduating seniors with their comments on their future plans are:

Sandra  Marie Lukefahr

Parents: Terry and Jerry Lukefahr
Future Plans: To work really hard after she graduates. She enjoys working at the daycare and hanging out with friends. She can’t wait to get out of school!


Ansley Richard  Robinson

Parents: Doreen and Scotty Robinson
Future Plans: Hunting and Fishing


Seth Nils Huppert

Parents: Bill and Valerie Huppert
Future Plans: To work in the summer, attend a community college in the fall, and own a really nice car.


Dellanira  Gonzalez Romero

Parents: Margarita Gonzalez and Rene Flores
Future Plans: To keep working hard and to raise her son, Nathen. She hopes to travel to Mexico to see her family and let them meet Nathen. She would also like to travel to new places in the world.


Michelle Dawn Cartwright

Parents: Ingeborg Frye and John Cartwright
Future Plans: To attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall, and possibly major in education or science.


Emma Ocie Frum Lovejoy

Parents: Karen Lovejoy and Dave Frum
Future Plans: To attend Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., in the fall. She’s interested in Peace and Conflict Studies and International Studies. She also hopes to study abroad again and travel more in the future.


Rebecca  Erin Jones

Parents: Mandy and Rick Jones
Future Plans: To work in child care and to travel. And to turn the world around with her smile.


Robert Stephen Chestnut

Parents: Bob and Jane Chestnut
Future Plans: To attend Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., and major in photojournalism. He hopes to travel the world with either National Geographic magazine or a surfing magazine. He will continue to work summers in the surf shop.


Tristan Bennink

Parents:  Daphne and Howard Bennink
Future Plans: To attend the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, NC, and to continue surfing, playing basketball and playing music.



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