A tassel hangs from a Lakenheath High School senior's graduation hat prior to the school's graduation ceremony inside Ely Cathedral Friday. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
A tassel hangs from a Lakenheath High School senior's graduation hat prior to the school's graduation ceremony inside Ely Cathedral Friday. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
Lakenheath High School seniors Stephanie Fisher and James Williams pose for a photo before their graduation ceremony inside Ely Cathedral. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
Lakenheath High School senior president Jenna Harris gives her remarks during the school's graduation ceremony. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
Lakenheath High School senior Deshaun Kuykendall receives his diploma from principal Kent Worford. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
Lakenheath High School seniors Jaye Legate, foreground, and Kristine Cordero wait for the graduation ceremony to begin. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
ELY — Music from an organ, songs from a choir and applause from a large crowd echoed throughout historic Ely Cathedral for 130 Lakenheath High School seniors who were sent into the real world Friday.
The 11th-century cathedral hosted the school’s 2007 graduation that had seniors gathered beneath a 142-foot wooden octagonal lantern dome and on display in front of the audience.
John Leveille, the graduation’s guest faculty speaker, gave some last teacher-to-student advice during the ceremony.
“I hope that whatever you choose to do, you make the right choice. Never be afraid to say that this is not for me. Life is too short [to spend your days] doing something you hate or something that bores you.
“Having been students at Lakenheath High School, you have the base to send the world on its heels,” Leveille said.
Prior to the ceremony, senior Stephanie Fisher talked about life after high school.
“It’s scary. No more school. We have to grow up,” said Fisher, who plans to take classes from University of Maryland at RAF Mildenhall, then eventually head to the States to become a Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina.
Senior James Williams, sitting next to Fisher before the graduation, said that he’ll try to land a job at the base’s post office.
“I’m finally getting out of school. I’m done,” Williams said about graduating.
When asked what made this year’s graduating class more special than others, Fisher mentioned the James Bond theme of 007 and the class’ school prank.
“We filled the hallways up to the ceiling with balloons, but I didn’t take part in that,” she said laughing.
Also on Friday, 25 students from Menwith Hill High School graduated during a ceremony inside Fountains Abbey.
