Graduates earn diplomas in McMinnville, Spencer
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In McMinnville, some 340 graduates received their diplomas during a ceremony which lasted about an hour and a half.
“It was a good graduation,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. “There were a few beach balls in the crowd, but those are harmless.”
Co-valedictorians Brandi Robinson and Ryan Otto gave speeches, and Jacob Wilson performed a song he wrote called “Before This Ends.”
For senior Loraen Ehrhardt, she said getting her diploma was a “big relief.” This summer, she will be a lifeguard at the city pool for a third year while deciding if she wants to attend Motlow or Tennessee Tech. Ehrhardt said maintaining her balance was her main concern during graduation.
“The only thing I was worried about was not falling,” said Ehrhardt referring to her walk across the stage. “My heels were a lot higher than they should have been.”
Senior D’Ann Bragg has her mind made up to attend Tennessee Tech where she wants to study nursing. She described graduation as “really exciting” and said her friends were the best part about high school.
“I still want to keep in touch with them,” Bragg said. “And I think I’ll be able to because a lot of them are going to Tech.”
Graduation was a bittersweet passage for 55 seniors at Van Buren County High School. The students talked about their plans after graduation and how it felt to leave school and friends. Senior Joseph Darryl Hensley said his future included a career in education.
“I plan to become a teacher,” Hensley said. “I’m going to go to Motlow and get at least my first two years, and then I’m going to get certified to teach music afterwards and come back up here to Spencer.”
Daniel Powers, one of the seniors in the top 10, found graduation exhilarating, but a bit frightening too.
“I’m going to go to college and major in business,” Powers said, “and minor in art. I’m really happy right now, glad to make it this far, but I believe I’m going to be bawling tonight. It’s scary. Very scary.”
Suzanna Grissom said college was definitely in her plans, though the choice of a final career was still up in the air.
“I’m going to go to college,” Grissom said. “Probably to Motlow or Tech. My dad wants me to be a pharmacist, so I’m thinking I might try to do that, but I don’t know.”
As for leaving school, Grissom said she felt a bit lost.
“I’m excited,” she said with a grin, “but I don’t know what I’m going to do on Monday.”
FFA president Kendra Farmer says she plans to work on an agriculture oriented career.
“I’m going to go to Motlow,” Farmer said, “and then I’m going to transfer to Tech and major in agri-business.”
Farmer said leaving school was hard.
“I’m excited,” Farmer said, “but yet I’m sad all at the same time because I’m missing all my friends already and I haven’t even left yet.”
Colby Wheeler, a BETA Club member and top ten student who plans to attend Tennessee Tech in the fall, said graduation was a melancholy time for him.
“Graduation is very sad and depressing to me,” Wheeler said. “I’m sad that I’m going to leave everybody and I won’t be seeing everybody anymore.
Class Valedictorian Morgan Curtis said a medical career is in her future.
“Right now I’m going to go to Tennessee Tech and major in nursing,” Curtis said. “For the moment. It may change, but right now that’s what I want to do.”