"It's sad to think about leaving it all behind, but I think the true test of my Uni education will come when I leave it," writes Lauren Piester, who graduated Saturday night with her 56 classmates. "How well am I prepared for college? For life after college? I can't say yet. But I know the transition will be made so much worse if all I can do is pine for high school."

Senior Malcolm Taylor ended his stellar Uni sports career today by placing third in the 1A 400-meter state finals. Taylor, the defending state runner-up, sprinted more than half a second faster than he did last year. First-time track finalist Albert Anastasio finished 23rd in the 3,200 run.

"I've been drawing since … forever, I guess," Paul Miller says. With his Uni career about to end, the talented senior plans to study visual arts at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. "The change of setting might be healthy after 19 years here," he says. "I have no idea what my career will be. But I'm sure I'll do art the rest of my life."

If you ever feel a breeze in the hallway, despite the fact there's no window or door open, don't fret. Math executive teacher Craig Russell probably just walked by so quickly that you didn't even see him. A blur of activity, Russell inspires students with his energy and enthusiasm. This past year, he even wrote his own textbook.

"When I first came to Uni, I'll admit that I had some difficulties integrating myself into the larger community," writes Gordon Ruan, who during the past five years has learned to become a more confident and open person. "Looking back to my subbie year, I still can’t imagine how much I’ve changed."

With their careers as Uni students about to end, several senior editors reflect on what they've learned during the past five years. "Mostly it comes down to what is being asked of us," they write. "Is it just too much? Or is it just too much of the wrong type of thing? Uni students are working hard — but is it all for the wrong reason?"

Senior Malcolm Taylor was one of nine sprinters who made the cut in Thursday's 400-meter semifinals in Charleston. Taylor ran the third-fastest time out of 38 competitors. He and sophomore Albert Anastasio (3,200 run) will compete Saturday for state honors.

That's it, folks! The time seems to have gone by incredibly fast. We'll miss Director Steve Epperson as he leaves after two superb years of guiding our school, and those of us coming back in August look forward to greeting our new director, Jeffrey Walkington. In the meantime, we leave you with our last edition of Cheers & Jeers for 2008-09!

"Maybe I'm too unwilling to compromise, maybe I'm too different," writes Elaine Gu. "I've yet to find that one friendship circle for me. But I've realized that's OK. Even though I don't have one best friend, I have a diverse group of people I hang out with. And most importantly, I'm happy with the way things are."

Students in Suzanne Linder's Social Advocacy class decided to learn first hand how teens could help out in these tough times. In doing so, they wanted to show other young people how they could make meaningful contributions as well.

Lor Sligar didn't anticipate and certainly doesn't appreciate the giant medical curveball that fate threw her way this past weekend, but it's taught her something important that she needed to know before she could graduate. "This is what fate has decided to do," she writes, "and there's nothing I can do except sit back and hold on tight."

"I am choosing to go to a college in another state, where I have no previous connections," writes Deborah Ladd. "It is beginning to dawn on me that I am putting myself completely out of any comfort zone I have ever known, and it's a little scary. I am starting to long for the good old days … but no, not my ones at Uni."

After enjoying a Vegas-themed prom at the Champaign Country Club, many students attended the PFO-sponsored post prom at Campus Recreation Center-East. More than 80 students showed up in the early-morning hours of May 10 for card games, swimming, basketball, dodgeball, movies, video games, and plenty of good food.

Maybe you couldn't make it to Big Show, or maybe you just want to watch some of your favorite sketches again. In either case, come on inside and check out the seven video skits that the Big Show '09 directors and cast put together for this year's comedy spectacular.

Uni High's student-written and -directed comedy showcase took to the North Attic stage May 15 and 16. The two performances helped X-Week raise a final total of $3,460 for this year's charity, the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club. Lor Sligar takes a quick look back at the show, along with this series of photos by Katy Metcalf.