The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – Covington High School graduated its final class of a little under 60 students during its commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 last Friday evening. CHS will become Covington Middle School at the start of the next school year.
After the processional, valedictorian and Class President Lauren Bragg gave the introduction and invited everyone to participate in a singing of the alma mater and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Aubrey Brown had the second highest grade point average and began her salutatorian address by saying that she chose CHS because of “the small class size. I love how everyone knows each other, and it feels like a big family,” said Brown. She wished her classmates “the best of luck with furthering their education.
“We will forever be the Cougars of 2023, the last graduating class of CHS,” said Brown in closing.
Erica Spinks also had the second highest GPA. “We are the last ever graduating class of CHS,” began her co-salutatorian address. “Tomorrow starts a whole new chapter in our lives, as we will leave here tonight no longer as high school seniors but as new material we can offer to this big world,” she said.
Spinks encouraged her classmates to take care of their mental health as she had lost one of her best friends to suicide. Spinks closed with a quote from Taylor Swift, “Hard things will happen to us. We will recover; we will learn from it; we will grow more resilient because of it.”
Bragg closed out the speeches with her address, “The Power of One.” She opened by saying what an honor and blessing it was to give the “last valedictorian speech for CHS.”
She shared memories of being “full of tears” her first two years at CHS. She encouraged her classmates through more tears, “to love each and every one and to remember that no matter where you go in life, always try to be that one person who is going to change somebody’s perspective on life.” Bragg added in closing, “It’s safe to say they saved the best class for last. Go Cougars!”
Kameron Tucker was recognized as the Top Student of the Standard Curriculum. Tucker scored the highest GPA in the SC.
Aubrey Brown and Luke Conner were awarded CHS Alumni Association Awards, and Dean Anderson was awarded the CHS Perfect Attendance Award. Anderson attended five consecutive years with perfect attendance.
Derek Cantrell, principal, thanked the parents and family members for their help with homework and getting the students to events and activities. He also thanked the faculty and staff for the roles they played in getting the students “where they are this evening.” Finally, he thanked the school board members, office personnel and the local governments for their work in creating policies to help the “students on this journey.”
After the awarding of the diplomas, Cantrell encouraged the graduates to make the most of every opportunity ahead of them. “You have the power to shape your own future,” said Cantrell.
He encouraged them to hold on to the values they learned at CHS, to continue to work hard and to embrace challenges that would come their way. “The legacy of CHS high school will live on through you and the alumni that came before you,” said Cantrell in closing.
This historic and final high school commencement exercise was well attended by family members and friends, media, government officials, school officials, sponsors and junior honor marshals.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Tom Sibold, mayor of the city of Covington. His mother graduated from CHS, and his dad was chairman of the school board. “We’ve been a part of this school system my whole life,” added Sibold. When asked about the sweet in bittersweet, Sibold talked about the memories of playing football, enjoying athletics and camaraderie.
“I hope our intentions were right so we get the kids better opportunities,” said Sibold in closing.
