Graduates embrace new beginning: 387 students receive diplomas Friday night

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County High School graduates toss their caps and shoot Silly String into the air in jubilation after being dismissed from Friday night’s graduation ceremonies. (Will Stewart photo)

The members of Warren County High School class of 2002, whose senior year was beset with tragedy both at home, with the loss of a classmate, and nationally with the events of Sept. 11, saw their high school education come to an end Friday night at Nunley Stadium as 387 earned their diplomas.

Never far from the minds of the graduates Friday night was their fallen classmate Deanna Grayson who died in September from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. All graduates wore purple ribbons in her memory and the chair she would have occupied was left empty.

Grayson was also remembered in word and song. Valedictorian Lindsi Mayfield and salutatorian Ty Slatton both paid her tribute in their addresses and fellow Pioneerette Ashley Evans sang “Thank you, I love you and I miss you,” which she dedicated to her memory.

“We learned how mortal we are. We lost friends and loved ones, but they’re still alive in our hearts,” said Mayfield.

While bittersweet at times, the graduation ceremony overall was an optimistic and happy one as the graduates closed the “first chapter” of their lives.

“We have been prepared for the chapter to come, what our parents call the ‘real world.’ Let us live this next chapter so when our lives are over everyone will want to read it,” said Mayfield.

“The elusive tomorrow has finally arrived,” said Slatton. “We are a special class and we have what it takes: the foundation, the desire and the character.”

While Friday night marked a new beginning for the graduates, it marked the end of careers for high school principal George Bolding and senior guidance counselor Pat Grissom-Young. The ceremony was the last for both, who are retiring this year.

Both Bolding and Grissom-Young commented on how well behaved the graduates were, a reference to last year’s ceremony which saw graduates bat around beach balls and a blow-up doll, as well as one student who exposed his bare buttocks to the crowd.

After the ceremony, many of the graduates attended Project Graduation at the Civic Center. This post-graduation party, complete with free food and valuable prizes, provided seniors and their dates an alternative to celebrations involving alcohol and drug use.