Boyd celebrates 10th graduating class-Seniors dodge downpour, receive diplomas

The 10th graduating class from Boyd Christian School held commencement ceremonies Thursday night with 14 seniors getting diplomas in the class of 2008.

Led by valedictorian Ashley Parker and salutatorian Mitchell Young, the class of 2008 marked a decade of graduates from the Christian school. The 14 graduates are an average-sized class since a high school was added to the Westwood campus.

For graduate Emily Newby, who has been going to Boyd since sixth grade, attending a private school has been an experience she has enjoyed.

‘It’s like being part of a family here,’ Newby said, noting she plans to attend Columbia State following graduation and go into the radiology field. ‘It is a very close-knit group.’

For Becky Crawford, mother of graduate Mileah Crawford, the commencement ceremonies were the second of the week for her family.

‘My younger daughter just graduated from eighth grade at Dibrell yesterday and now Mileah is graduating tonight,’ Mrs. Crawford said, noting her daughter plans to go to Motlow to begin her higher education. ‘I really don’t know how I feel about it. I think it’ll hit me next week.’

She will be joined at Motlow by a Boyd original, John Davis, who has been going to the school since first grade, and Isaiah White who has been at Boyd since eighth grade.

The ceremony was kicked off by an invocation offered by director of development Ronnie Doak and opening remarks by superintendent Robert Harper. The valedictorian and salutatorian then offered their keynote addresses.