OREM — Lone Peak High School graduates and Spider-Man could have something in common, said a board of education member.
"Great power carries great responsibility," said Christine Hannemann of the Alpine School District Board of Education, quoting the comic book superhero.
"Your choices ultimately define who you are," she said, noting that the fictional Peter Parker had to choose to be a superhero after he gained unusual powers when bitten by a radioactive spider. "Like Peter, you must discover who you are," she said.
He, too, had to decide whether to use his gifts for the good of mankind or for himself. The more than 600 graduates can also choose to be heroes by putting others before themselves, she said.
The 2007 senior class is the 10th to graduate from the Highland high school, Principal Kenneth Coop said. For the past five years it has been named by Newsweek magazine as one of the top high schools in the country.
A National Merit Scholarship winner, Jeffrey Andersen, was included in this year's graduating class. The school also graduated nine students who simultaneously earned their collegiate Associate of Arts degree.
Coop said he remembered and followed a quote attached to his aunt's refrigerator: "Choose the reputation you want, then live up to it."
Finally, he said some parents may be getting a bill from him. Several students, in a twist on the theme "character," text-messaged him asking simply, "what's up, Chip" during their outing to Lagoon. Chip is his nickname. He said the messages exceeded his monthly text allotment by more than 2,000 messages.
Three foreign exchange students from Chili, Germany and Japan were recognized, along with assistant principal Kurt Roberts.
Student body president Marshall Sheide said. "Barriers are imaginary. There are no restrictions except what we place on ourselves."
Valedictorian Richard Knapp paid homage to the graduates' parents and teachers. He told the graduates to live life and not to dwell in the past.
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