By Lori EhdeLuverne’s Traci Evans won’t march to "Pomp and Circumstance" in a cap and gown next weekend with her classmates.While they’re receiving their diplomas, she’ll be in Fort Lee, Va., working her advanced individual training with the Army National Guard.Evans joined the Luverne guard unit last year and spent last summer in basic training."I signed up not knowing that my AIT would be 12 weeks long," Evans said. "I’d either have to miss graduation or start college in the second semester."She plans to start her freshman year at North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D., this fall. "My brother told me if you start college late, you miss meeting people and it’d be harder transitioning into college life," she said. She said her classmates in Luverne have been supportive. "I was there for baccalaureate, so that was kind of my graduation."She said the school gave her the diploma at that time and made special mention of her circumstances.Evans will train for her military occupational specialty, automated logistical specialist. She described the MOS as administrative work, for example, helping with ordering military supplies.She is the daughter of Luverne’s Todd and Patty Evans.The Luverne Guard unit has been placed on alert for possible deployment next summer, 2006.She went to Sioux Falls Wednesday night to report to superiors in Fort Lee and she flies out today.
