Can't believe Caleb is graduating from High School tonight

Two nights ago I attended Caleb's Band concert.  This was his last band concert of the year.  It was an incredible concert, those students are so great.   Near the end of the concert the band director got up to present a special award called the Director's award for Band.  In Band they only award it to one person.  The band director started going on and on about an individual he felt had grown over the 4 years that he's known him, who had shown the most Leadership, who had gone above and beyond anything he was expected.  Then  he announced this award goes to Caleb Clark.   I couldn't believe I heard my son's name being called out.  So incredibly awesome.  I was just filled with happiness.   Then  last night I attended the last high school choir concert of the year.  This concert was fabulous as well, so much talent displayed.  Caleb, Daniel and Jared were all there singing in different choirs.  My heart was filled with joy as I watched my sons all sing.

Near the end of the concert, Ryan Person, Caleb's Choral Director, got up to present some awards.  He was giving out the Fred Waring Director's award for Chorus.  Ryan then went on to say all these nice things and why he selected who he did.  Then he called out the winner of the award and Caleb's name was called.  I started to bawl.  I just couldn't believe it.  I am wowed that Caleb not only won a Director's award once, but then again.  So awesome for him.  Below are pictures of those awards, not his because his need engraved with his name.

Director's Award for Band

Fred Waring Director's Award for Chorus

Caleb Clark

An article was written about Caleb in the school paper. I'm retyping it for you all to read:

ON A MISSION

Graduate from high school. Go to College for four years, maybe grad school, then get a job. There's a fairly generic formula as to what to do beyond our high school years. Caleb Clark '11, however, is not following this in the least. Instead, the young man hopes to work for a year, go on a two-year long mission trip and proceed to major in theatrical lighting. Despite the fact that, surprisingly, one must pay around $10,000 to serve on a mission trip, Clark looks forward to the experience. "It's a cool opportunity to devote yourself to service," he said. Clark is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which every "worthy" (determined by physical well-being and adherence to church rules) is requested to complete a mission trip. According to Clark, fellow seniors Brad Guymon and Ryan Stewart also plan to go on mission trips. Members of previous classes, such as Tyler Dawson '09 and Stephen Olson '09, are currently participating in mission trips, Dawson being stationed in Idaho and Olson in Uruguay. The members of the church have no choice in where they will be assigned (Clark himself hopes for somewhere warm), but regardless of the location, Clark hopes to help solve certain problems. "I think violence is an issue," he said. "It's around us so often we don't understand how it affects us."

After his mission trip, Clark plans to major in theater lighting, an unusual interest for a high school student. His fascination in the activity began when he helped out with the lighting for theater West as a junior. "It was love at first sight", he recalled. "Lighting can make people change their feelings about something without them noticing it . . . it is the ultimate manipulator."  Since joining the theater at West, Clark has applied his lighting skills to numerous other events and activities, which has only deepened his love for the art. He also enjoys watching various productions to learn and appreciate various lighting techniques. "I just love seeing all the cool artistic things they can do", he said. "There's just so many cool things about lighting."

Truly, it is impossible to tell what the future holds. But one thing is for certain: the path Clark plans to take is definitely, the one less traveled by, and it is bound to make a difference.----article written by Garrett Anstreicher