By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The 2006 Niles High School graduation was thick with emotion.
There was excitement as graduates were welcomed into the gymnasium with a standing ovation. Slowly, they filed in to the sounds of ‘Pomp and Circumstance' played by the Viking Marching Band, and waved back and smiled at the erratic waving hands in the crowd.
There was respect as the class was then officially welcomed by their administrators.
Knoll then turned the show over to the graduates.
There was sadness as the members of the choir shed tears and performed their final number together.
There was definitely laughter.
The senior class gleamed and giggled while Ashley Shuster recalled the last four years of her friends' locker difficulties, bloody noses and athletic victories.
And, most people in the gym buckled with laughter during Peter Brandstatter's tale of traveling 12 whole miles throughout his Niles school career - between Northside Elementary, Ballard Elementary, Ring Lardner Middle School and the high school.
And, of course there was joy as pockets of family and friends in the bleachers erupted when their beloved graduate graced the stage and snatched up the most important document of their young lives.
Just before the graduates were officially welcomed into the club of Niles High School Alumni, Stephanee Schrader presented Knoll with a gift from the class of 2006 - a quote by English novelist and prime minister, Benjamin Desraeli, to be hung in the halls of the school.
Oh, how there was happiness.