Student Speakers to Take Center Stage at Local High School Commencements

There are no major speakers on the high school commencement circuit this year, unlike two years ago when Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon addressed graduates at Northwest High School's graduation ceremony.

Instead, local students will be taking center stage, addressing their colleagues during the commencment ceremony.

Lindbergh High School has set 7 p.m. May 28 for commencement at the Chaifetz Arena on the St. Louis University campus at 1 S. Compton Ave., St. Louis. Students Vidhan Srivastava and Azra Sadikovic will address their peers.

Rockwood Summit High School will send its graduates onto college or careers at a commencement ceremony May 23, also at the Chaifetz Arena. The student speakers will include Chris Beck, Brianna Biffignani, Brian Ball, Taylor Strader, Rocky Brown and Nick Ward.

Chaifetz Arena also is the location of commencement for Fox and Seckman high schools on May 19. The ceremonies will begin at noon for Seckman graduates and at 4 p.m. for Fox graduates. A list of the speakers was unavailable.

Northwest High School will stay at home for graduation, scheduling its commencement at the high school at 2 p.m. May 19. Student speakers will be class valedictorian Clayton Batch and class salutatorians Sarah Abrahamson, Daniel Schneider-Salutatorian and Dylan Stege.

Affton High School also will keep commencement exercises at home, scheduled at 7 p.m. May 22 in the Affton High School auditorium. A list of speakers was unavailable.

Oakville and Mehlville high schools will have its Class of 2013 commencements at the Family Arena in St. Charles, 2002 Arena Pkwy. Oakville's ceremony is set to start at 2 p.m., with Mehlville following at 6 p.m. A speaker list was not available.