Graduates wave goodbye to days of high school

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

As he marches in to “Pomp and Circumstance,” graduate Johnny Bouldin waves to well-wishers in the stands. (Will Stewart photo)

The members of Warren County High School’s Class of 2003 saw their childhoods end and their adult lives begin Friday night at Nunley Stadium as 397 walked across the graduation stage.

While the night was met with jubilation as the graduates looked toward the future, it did contain a bittersweet element as the class remembered Jeremy Freeman, a classmate who fell victim to suicide earlier in the school year, by wearing ribbons in his memory.

For the most part, however, the ceremony was optimistic. In her address, salutatorian Stacy Parkhurst recounted the class’ 13 years in school, from their first days of kindergarten, to the awkward middle school years, to the high school years, which began with uncertainty, but ended in triumph.

“We’re a special class with a special bond. We’ve shared laughter, secrets and sadness. We’ve had good times and bad,” she noted, adding that for all of their memories, “this is only the beginning.”

Valedictorian Amanda Stubblefield spoke of the diversity that lies ahead and encouraged her classmates to listen to the advice of those who have gone before them, to enjoy today, and to always remember to laugh.

Principal James Bennett, who along with senior class counselor Dr. Keri McGiboney, oversaw his first graduation since taking the helm of the high school this school year, said he was delighted with the ceremony.

“I’m very well pleased with the way everything went. This has been an entire community effort and I’d like to thank all who helped make it a success. I’d also like to thank the students for their excellent behavior. If throwing beach balls, which was just good clean fun, was the worst thing they did, I’m happy,” he said.

Following the night’s commencement ceremonies, many of the graduates attended Project Graduation at the Civic Center. This post-graduation party, which lasted all night and came complete with free food, games and valuable prizes, gave the graduates and their dates a safe alternative to celebrations involving alcohol and drug use.