They were born and grew up indifferent parts of the nation, they follow different traditions and they pursue different aspirations and goals. But today, they share a common bond that will unite them forever with hundreds of their colleagues and many thousands of Mounties who went before them.

Meggan Pender, who found a new home in Montclair after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, and Tucker Sargent, the fourth generation of his family to attend Montclair High School, were among the 530 members of the Class of 2008 who received their diplomas during MHS’s commencement exercises this week.

"I am so excited to graduate," Pender said. "I have been waiting for this for so long. It has been a honor and privilege to meet a lot of the teachers and students from Montclair High. They have taught me so much about myself and life in general."

Graduation was just as sweet for Sargent. "The fact that I was a fourth-generation Montclair High School student was very important to me," he said. "It was also a great reminder of the tradition that the community of Montclair has to offer. It made me feel special that my family members and I could all relate when discussing ‘our Montclair High School days.’"

Tradition, family and making the most of one’s opportunities were on the mind of another MHS grad, Charles Gibbs, who earned his diploma in 1986. A native of Montclair, Gibbs went on to graduate from Howard University’s school of business and the School of Education before embarking on a successful career in business. Gibbs also serves on the Mayor of Washington DC’s Martin Luther King Jr’s commission for service.

Gibbs is dean of residence life at Howard University and returned to MHS this week as the keynote speaker at the graduate ceremonies.

Urging the Class of 2008 to "stand firmly on your Montclair High School education and the rich legacy that we share," Gibbs told the graduates to "take what you have learned here and use it as your bedrock foundation and blueprint that will guide you to the future."

"The road to success is always under construction. And you are the architect and engineer of that road," Gibbs told the audience in the MHS auditorium that was packed with students, faculty and parents, with an overflow crowd that was watching on a special closed-circuit TV link in the MHS cafeteria.

"You decide where to build the bridges and where you place the ramps, and you are the person that lays the pavement and puts the line in the middle of the road," Gibbs said in a rousing speech that was interrupted with cheers and applause.

"You decide how many lanes will be moving, the speed of the traffic, and where you will place the red lights and stop signs. You will need to maintain your road, and at times, no doubt, you will need to repair the potholes, refurbish the surface, or dig deep to the base ands replace a stretch of the road," Gibbs said.

As eager as they were to hear Gibbs’ advice, the members of the Class of 2008 were also proud to speak about their accomplishments.

"Montclair High School students have constantly given back to our community over the past four years, a reflections of their ability to imagine life in someone’s else’s shoes," 2008 Class President Mike Blume said in his address.

"This class has worked tirelessly to raise thousands of dollars for AIDS relief as well as the genocide in Darfur, among other community service endeavors," Blume said.

"For the past three years, my classmates have organized Sisters on the Runway, a fashion show raising over $30,000 for women’s shelters. Members of the class also volunteer as paramedics on the volunteer ambulance corps. Clearly, the Class of 2008 has strong potential to understand and affect the lives of others. I am proud to be a member of this fantastic group of students."

Blume’s classmates will leave another impressive legacy behind. Nearly 90 per cent of them plan to attend college or other educational institutions. Some graduates will join the military, and others will pursue job opportunities.

"I enjoyed my stay at Montclair High," Meggan Pender said. "It was hard for me to adapt and adjust at first. But as time went on, I began to feel more comfortable with New Jersey as my home."

"I loved my time at Montclair High School," said Tucker Sargent. "I am very proud I had the opportunity to wear the royal blue cap and gown and to be a true Mountie and walk across the stage like those in my family who came before me."

Contact George Wirt at wirt@montclairtimes.com