Water bottles were as prevalent as cameras Sunday evening as friends and family braved temperatures in the 90s to bid farewell to the Ironton High School Class of 2008.

Programs passed out at the gate of Tanks Memorial Stadium quickly doubled as fans as everyone sought some cool air. The only thing that was visibly not suffering from the heat were the flower arrangements at the podium. And that was only because they were made out of silk.

Even the few minutes it took to line up the class for its last photo op together was way too long for some as soon-to-be graduates with gowns unbuttoned chanted, “It’s — Too— Hot. It’s — Too — Hot.”

IHS principle Joe Rowe agreed, as he got ready to give last minutes instructions to the ensemble.

“This is the hottest one I’ve known. I’m in my fifth year,” Rowe said. But he was more interested in giving out accolades instead of complaining about Mother Nature.

“This is a heck of a class,” he said. “They are a hard-working bunch. There’s a lot of character.”

Guidance counselor J.C. Medinger, tracking down those who had the distinction of wearing honor cords, medallion or stoles with their gowns, noted the class had earned approximately $1.3 million in scholarships and grants that will help pay for their upcoming future.

Just before the class got the go-ahead to proceed to the field, Stevy Light and Brooke Markel drilled each other one more time on the proper protocol for receiving their diplomas.

“I’m exhilarated and excited,” said Light, who will be on the Kent State University campus in the fall studying deaf education. “I’m going to be out of high school. It seems that it took forever, but went too quickly.”

Markel will be closer to home when she starts college at Ohio University Southern to study early childhood education. But she realized next year won’t quite be the same.

“I’m nervous because it will be my last time being here at school and I won’t be seeing a lot of people,” she said.

Honors abounded for the 103 members of the class with 23 students receiving cum laude distinction for their 3.0 to 3.4 grade point average and 11 earning magna cum laude for 3.5 to 3.99 GPA.

Ashley Moritz headed the list of six gaining top honors of summa cum laude requiring a 4.0 or high GPA. Joining her were Rebecca Pack, Michelle Pancake, Kathryn Rath, the school’s national merit scholarship recipient, Grace Seward and Jessica Waddle.