NATCHEZ &8212; The superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Jackson Diocese put a little pressure on Cathedral High School&8217;s graduates Friday night.

&8220;Our world needs much today,&8221; Deborah Hughes said. &8220;And we place our hope in you, class of 2006.&8221;

Hughes challenged the graduates to plant hope in the future by staying firmly rooted in the gospel and in their belief in Jesus&8217; love for them.

&8220;You have been grounded in gospel values,&8221; she said. &8220;Make the world a better place. That&8217;s our hope for you.&8221;

Valedictorian Haley Whittington said she felt her class had the needed foundation to grow from this point on.

&8220;Over the past 12 years each of us has grown into an individual,&8221; she said. &8220;But we all came from the same roots. Twelve years ago, our parents planted us here. Now it is time to dispense.

&8220;We are planting hope for the future.&8221;

Whittington said the friendships built at Cathedral would carry them through the years to come.

&8220;What I know for sure is that the class of 2006 friendships are strong,&8221; she said. &8220;Seasons change. People come into your lives and people go. It&8217;s comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart.&8221;

Salutatorian Murphy Hinson said it was the experiences together that have made the graduates who they are.

&8220;We have built the character needed to pursue any aspirations we have,&8221; Hinson said. &8220;Success is a product of hard work and dedication.&8221;