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This year's graduation was held inside the high school gymnasium as a steady downpour of rain fell outside. Despite the heat that escorts over five hundred people into one room, the ceremony was a bright, celebratory event, packed from wall to wall to wall to wall with cheering, smiling, laughing and joy.
Following the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance," Erin Rogers, the secretary of the class of 2007, led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Hayesville High School's band was under the baton of Director Jennifer Gibson as they performed the National Anthem.
Beginning by saying that he thought the class of 2007 was the closest class to graduate from the school, Shook welcomed the packed gymnasium full of family and friends. He then proceeded to recall the past, mentioning the loss of classmate Chief Parker in the eighth grade. "We will continue to have a place in our hearts forever for chief," he said. However, he encouraged the class to remember the "lighter moments" throughout the years, like winning every homecoming float competition. "God will always comfort us in all of our future endeavors," he said.
Amanda James was the first of four Honor Graduates to deliver a speech at the ceremony.
"On this night of great emotion we come together for what most likely will be the last time," she began. "Some of us have gone to school together since that very first day of kindergarden. Personally, I think that's something special because not many people can say that they have truly grown up with the majority of the people that they graduated with."
James said that whether someone has been an HHS student for 13 years or for one, they are "no less a part of this class than anyone else." She also addressed the class's excellence in athletics, academics and the arts, but said that she remained adamant on her belief that they were all essentially good people. "There have been times in our educational lives," she said, "in which we have proven that we are people of good character who really do care about each other."
"The friendships we forged throughout these past years will be with us forever," declared Bethel Bower, the second speaker. "I hope you take every chance to learn from those you meet, just like I have learned from all of you." Speaking with a dose of wisdom, Bower asked the crowd, "If we can all get along so well, then what's to say the rest of the world can't do the same?"
Music provided an interruption to the podium as the senior chorus sang "I'm Not Gonna Cry" by Corey Smith. The choir of nearly 20 members was directed by Leslie Setzer with accompaniment from Lindsey Cope and graduate Ryan James, after a month and a half of preparation.
Two final Honor Graduate speakers took command of the microphone following the song. The first was Benjamin Bordner, who opened with a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne.
"No one can achieve greatness while simultaneously living a lie," said Bordner, a strong speaker. "We must realize our true selves and accept that which we cannot change.... Our upcoming lives will be the final test to see what we really learned at Hayesville."
Bordner said he never imagined Hayesville students would be so welcoming to a transfer student like himself when he first came to Clay County. "The faculty at Hayesville has shown me that they truly care," he said. "One person who exemplifies this thought is Harris Crisp. Harris has always been an encouragement to me."
Ending with a touch of humor, Bordner reflected on what he had learned from his years in the classroom.
"I may never need to know how to correctly use a subjunctive clause, or exactly how or why the shrewd needed taming, but other lessons (like individuality and credibility) will definitely be useful," he said.
Erin Layton was the fourth and final Honor Graduate to speak to her class. "Being that little girl, wishing so much to be as grown up as those seniors in the school next door, I didn't understand that life isn't about reaching some magical destination, but rather about the moments along the way," she said. Layton spoke with emphasis and passion and seemed genuinely touched that she had finally made it to where she had longed to be.
"I know that because of everything we've been through, we are unified," she said. "Not one of us will walk across the stage alone tonight.... God put us all together for a reason."
Associate Superintendent of Clay County Schools, Carol Arnold, then proceeded to recognize each of the honor societies, announcing in sequence the style of stole and a synopsis of of the function of each society while members of each rose in turn and turned faced the crowd as their names were called. The National Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Tri-M Music Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and National Honor Society were proclaimed.
"It doesn't matter what you really succeed in in life, said Superintendent of Clay County Schools Douglas Penland. "If you're not a good citizen, then you're lacking a quality that is very much needed in today's society." Penland presented the Outstanding Citizen award, which is voted on by the school's faculty and staff, to Billie Jeanne Curns.
Dr. Gail Criss, Hayesville High School's principal, then took the podium to recognize students with outstanding achievement, including North Carolina Scholars, those who earned the President's Education Award, and the full list of Honor Graduates. Criss announced the top five highest grade point averages in the class: Nathan Bourne, Amanda James, Evan Linebach, Michael Glatthar (4.4) and the highest, Ann Guggisberg (4.5).
Penland then returned to issue a challenge to the graduates. He read a letter written by a parent to a teacher about a little boy entering kindergarden for the first time.
"One of the most important things a child can have," he said, "is loving, caring parents. The parents of tonight's seniors have done an outstanding job of raising their children. I commend you on a job well done." Penland challenged the graduates to always keep the words of Winston Churchill in mind: "We will never, never, never give up."
Criss and Penland then awarded 93 diplomas to the class before Nathaniel Bourne, vice president of the student body, came to the front of the crowd to deliver his closing speech.
"As our paths diverge and we all go our separate ways out into the world," Bourne began, "may we take with us all that we have gained here: the knowledge that has been imparted on this path of education, the wisdom that each of us have gained from our own individual experiences and the irreplaceable and hopefully for the most part positive memories that we have had over the past four years of high school." His speech offered words of hope and points of advice to the class.
Criss then came to deliver her traditional list of destination, detailing the differing institutions and locations each student from the class would separate to after graduation. In addition, she announced that scholarship aid for members of the class was reported in the amount of $1,251,175. Of that amount, $109,500 came from local scholarships.
Certifying that all members of the graduating class had met the graduation requirements of the state, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Clay County Board of Education, Criss gave the podium to Charles Penland, chairman of the Clay County Board of Education, who officiated the event.
Caps flew in celebratory excitement as silly string soared above the graduates to a zenith and gently fell back upon the heads of each smiling face. Serving as marshals for the event were juniors Sarah Adams, Meredith Hughes, John Kindy, Sarah McAuliffe, Ian McLamb, Alex Morgan, J.G. Moss, Devin Tant, Alex Walters and Tiffany Wood. Also, Senior Class Advisors were Dorcas Brooks, Steve Cottrell, Karen Hazelwood, Betty McKinney, Karen Nicholson, Rhonda Smiley, Becky Stewart and Teressa Woodard.
To comment on this article, email Harrison at hkeely@gmail.com.
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