Students, family and friends gathered in a packed gym at Jac-Cen-Del High School Saturday, June 8 to witness the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2013. Excitement built as students gathered in the cafeteria to prepare and as they spilled out into the hallway dressed in the traditional red and blue colors of Jac-Cen-Del.

First to speak at the podium was Brianna Volz, class president. She reminded her classmates that they were the first class to take a field trip to Chicago and stated, "No matter where your path lies, remember you are the Class of 2013."

Superintendent Dr. Leanna Phillippe, praised this class of seniors using the analogy that while they were seniors she had been in her kindergarten year as the new superintendent at Jac-Cen-Del. According to Phillippe, she learned many lessons about success from this group of seniors. Her parting words were, "I will be watching you and cheering for you!" She encouraged them to follow their passions and continue to be leaders wherever they go.

The salutatorian, Shelley Spilman, spoke about leadership. "Leadership is a personal characteristic developed over time," she said. She saw each classmate as they developed as leaders. She encouraged each one to show the world who they are. “Now," she said, “is the time!"

But, perhaps, the most telling comment that describes this class of 2013 and all it's various achievements comes from the valedictorian, Ashley Hammond, "Only you have the power to write your future. You have the ability to set your own path in life. So, be sure to live life to the fullest." She encouraged her classmates to "never give up on your dreams."

After the speeches, the group got down to the business of graduating. The first student to receive this year's graduation honor was Chad Anderson. One of the first girls to graduate was Nichole Brown. Others followed quickly.

Echoing the words used by their salutatorian, that she borrowed from Dr. Seuss, "You have brains in your heart...you know what you know!" Move on and make us prouder. (See this week’s issue of the Osgood Journal for more pictures.)

Mary Hussung of Milan plans to remodel the kitchen and pay off the mortgage in the house she owns with her parents after winning $100,000 on a Hoosier Lottery Scratch-off last week.

"Everybody is saying how glad they are for me," said Hussung. "I'm glad because this will take a burden off my mom and dad."

Hussung purchased her lucky Winning in Spades Scratch-off at J & J Liquors at 13195 Bank Street in Dillsboro. She buys scratch off tickets all the time, and has won $700, $500 and $400 before. She was overwhelmed as she claimed her prize at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters in Indianapolis June 3. “I was in shock," she said Friday.

Hussung has three children, two of whom are in college. She has worked for the last 10 years at Fields IGA in Dillsboro. She’ll continue to work, but says this gives her a sense of financial security for the future. "I live in a small town and I work in a small town so everybody knows me. People keep telling me how happy they are for me and that I deserve it," said Hussung. "I don't know if I deserve it, but I sure do need it." She added, “I thank God for this."

After taxes, she will net $71,642.05, she said.

The Hoosier Lottery is to maximize net income for the state in a socially-responsible manner. In fiscal year 2012, the Hoosier Lottery generated $211 million in surplus revenue which was used to reduce the motor vehicle excise tax for Hoosier drivers and also supported the pension funds for retired Indiana teachers, police and firefighters. Player prizes for the fiscal year totaled $533 million and $60 million was earned by Indiana retailers on the sale of Hoosier Lottery products.

Since its inception in 1989, the Hoosier Lottery has produced more than $4.2 billion for the citizens of Indiana.