The Haines High School Class of 2002 took a final turn around the floor of the Karl Ward Gymnasium Tuesday night in a graduation ceremony featuring thought-provoking speeches, numerous scholarship awards, and warm school memories.

The 22-member graduating class had an unusual demographic makeup. The valedictorian was a third-year student and the salutatorian, Canadian.

The class included five Mosquito Lake School alumni, which former teacher Ron Weishahn said is likely the largest-ever showing of highway youths in one class.

Salutatorian Samantha Darling, class speaker and student council president Scott McDowell, and scholarship award leader Dez Fitzhugh all matriculated from the rural school. "We’re pretty proud of our Mosquito Lakers. They’ve done pretty well over the years," Weishahn said.

McDowell said the group, which also includes state-ranked track and cross-country athletes Coleman Stanford and Erica Visscher, shared formative experiences.

"The first time we came into contact with the rest of the motley crew was during our town school visit, when we got to ride the bus with the big kids and see what school in the urban jungle was like…We all went out to Rainbow Glacier Camp and had one huge, adventure-packed day," McDowell said.

While commencement speaker Dan Henry illustrated his talk about respect with a lengthy account of a Tlingit battle, other speakers chose lighter subjects. Valedictorian Dawn Hlavacek, who finished high school in three years with a grade point average of 3.62, listed seven guidelines for happiness.

Quoting sources ranging from Winston Churchill to children’s author A.A. Milne, Hlavacek admonished classmates to smile, accept change, dream, think, sleep nude, and be nice to "nerds like me. One day you may end up working for one."

"Remember the compliments you receive and forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how," Hlavacek said.

Salutatorian Darling used the analogy of a box of crayons to illustrate the diverse personalities in her class, and urged classmates to blend the colors they experience in life.

Local, state and national scholarships to graduating seniors and alumni Tuesday totaled $119,120.

College awards: University of Alaska Scholars Awards, $11,000, Samantha Darling, Penny Fossman, Dawn Hlavacek. Northwest College, $3,500, Vanessa Phillips, Brigham Young University Idaho, $620, Heidi Berry.

University of Alaska Southeast, $1,000, Adam Davis. Northeastern University, $22,000, Dawn Hlavacek. U.S. Army, $28,800, Dez Fitzhugh.

Alaska Native Sisterhood, $350, Berry. Student Leadership Award, $2,000, Scott McDowell. Sealaska Scholarship, $3,000, Daniel Foletti. Haines Women’s Club, $500, Berry, Stephannie Viche, Trenton White.

Chilkat Valley News, $250, Joey Jacobson. Alaska Power & Telephone, $1,000, Soren Allred. Haines High Alumni, $500, Nicole Hibbard. Harold Hopper Memorial, $1,000, Tyler Healy. Lynn Canal Conservation, $500, Angel Stigen, McDowell.

Dick Hotch Memorial, $500, Fossman, Phillips. Haines Sportsman Association, Barbara Campbell Memorial, $500, Joanna Shaw, Fossman. Karl Ward Memorial, $1,000, Robyn Barlow.

Pioneers of Alaska, Andrea Hannon, Jim Lampkins. Haines Volunteer Fire Department, $500, Darling, McDowell, Ryan Josephson, Josh Hibbard.

American Legion, $500, Joey Jacobson, Nicole Hibbard. Sons of the American Legion, $500, Nicole Hibbard, Foletti. American Legion Auxiliary, $500, Hannon, Phillips, Christina Smith.

Haines Emblem Club, $1,000, Hannon, $750, McDowell, Soren Allred, Phillips, Berry, $500, John Plucker, Lampkins. Haines Elks Club, $2,000, Phillips, $1,000 Jacobson, Teenagers of the Year, $500, McDowell, Darling.

Haines Teachers Association, $500, Stigen, Hibbard, Davis, McDowell, $250, Josh Hibbard, Nicole Hibbard.