The Shadow
One hundred eighty-five seniors received their diplomas Saturday morning during Alleghany High School’s 2019 commencement at Mountaineer Field.
Saturday’s commencement exercises were the 36th in the school’s history.
Principal Dwayne Ross said the Class of 2019 excelled in academics, athletics, the arts and other co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Ross urged the seniors to take risks as they enter the world and to learn from the setbacks they will encounter.
“Be passionate about everything you do, because your passion will lead you to where you want to go,” Ross said.
The class valedictorian was Anthony Moses.
Assistant Principal Kelly Huff described Moses as “the kindest, most compassionate student to ever attend Alleghany High School.”
Moses, who holds the distinction of being Alleghany’s first African-American valedictorian, is the son of Vince and Kim Moses of Covington. He will attend Virginia Tech in the fall.
In recognizing his fellow seniors, Moses said: “I am so proud of you all and the people that supported all of you along every step are proud of you as well. Remember, what you learn from here cannot be taken away from you.”
Moses said that as he attended AHS and the early college scholars program at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, he learned to have fun and not always take life seriously.
“This may sound horrible, but hear me out,” he said. “It is hard to enjoy life if you are always serious. If you are too serious, you will overthink everything and mess up a lot more.”
Moses said he also learned to put great effort into everything he did, while also striving to lift up and encouraging other people.
The salutatorian was Lindsey Brown, daughter of Dr. Scott and Gwen Brown of Clifton Forge.
She will attend Virginia Tech and major in sociology with a pre-medical track. After she graduates from Virginia Tech, Brown plans to enroll in medical school.
In her introduction of Brown, Assistant Principal Karen Staunton called her “an amazingly kind young woman.”
In her speech, Brown shared four life principles that she learned from country music singer Dolly Parton, who she described as her “all-time favorite famous person.”
Brown said Parton taught her that storms in life “are shaping us into stronger, wiser people.”
She also learned from Parton that a person needs to discover who they are and embrace it.
“In a world where everyone tries to fit in, I encourage you all to figure how who you are and unapologetically embrace it,” Brown said.
She said Parton also taught her that “you’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.” In expanding that life principle, Brown urged her classmates to serve others.
“Live in service to your family, your church, your city, your country … live in service to your home. Then you will find your true life purpose. There you will find your way to your true identity,” she said.
In congratulating her classmates, Brown shared lyrics from Parton’s song, “I Will Always Love You.”
“I hope life treats you kind and I hope you have all you dreamed of and I wish to you joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love,” Brown said in quoting from Parton’s song.
Danielle Morgan delivered congratulatory remarks from the Alleghany County School Board. Morgan represents the Clifton Forge East District on the board.
“Look around you. Take the opportunity to embrace this very brief moment in time,” Morgan said. “What chapter you write next, depends on you.”
Gene Koltulka, superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools, said graduation marks the “end of childhood and the beginning of adult independence.”
He urged the seniors to be gamechangers as they enter the world. He said gamechangers refuse to be average, develop a clear purpose in life and they are aware of the needs of other. Gamechangers also have a penchant for keeping things simple, he said.
Kotulka also urged the Class of 2019 not to get caught up in the epidemic of fake news that is sweeping the country and causing division on all level of society. He said fake news is being largely fueled by social media.
“You must step up to the falsehoods, speak the facts … and bring us together again as one country and one community,” Kotulka said.
Assistant Principal Ty Dobbs recognized seniors who achieved perfect attendance. Emya Beverly, Lindsey Brown, Brandon Caldwell, Vanna Hoke, Logan Robertson and Hunter Smith were recognized for perfect attendance during the 2018-2019 school year.
Justin Clarke and Bailee Leitch were recognized for perfect attendance during their junior years.
Maggie Thompson and Haydon Washburn had perfect attendance during all four years at AHS.
The class gift, a $500 scholarship for a member of the Class of 2020, was presented by Leitch, Hailey Nicely and Alexis Shultz, who served as officers for the Class of 2019. The class also presented the school with a new podium.
Ross paid tribute to the late Stacey Gibson, who served as a teacher at AHS for 17 years. She died in October at the age of 43.
“This year has been particularly tough with the loss of Ms. Gibson, a woman that right up to her last day was making sure we had everything we needed to meet high expectations and be successful. She loved her AHS family very much and she expects great things out of all of you,” Ross said to the seniors.
Alleghany High School Class of 2019
A’s: Ahlam Abouakil, Braden Aubrey James Adcock, Kelsey Marie Ailstock, Benjamin Scott Alleman, Christian Eugene Allen, Logan Tanner Arritt, Jenna Marie Austin
B’s: Tabitha Elaine Balliett, Ryan Edward Bayne, Julia Leigh Bell, Emya Shaquan Beverly, Marley Paige Booth, Isabelle Solange Borduas, Caleb Brennon Bowen, Bradley Hunter Brackenridge, Samuel Trey Brackenridge, Carson Gage Brantley, Angel Dawn Brookman, Mitchell Adam Brookman, Tyler James Brookman, Lindsey Jo Brown, Madison Rylee Brown, Tristan Alexander Brown, Olivia Lee Bryant, Shontee Chavey Butler-Ray, Jacob Wallace Byer.
C’s: Brandon Scott Caldwell, Jonah Christian Carroll, Macyn Gage Carter, Shawn Michael Carter, Alex Hayden Caruthers, Justin Douglas Clarke, Sterling Emerald Coles III, Kassidi Nicole Craft, Breeonna Marie Crawford, Matthew Blake Crookshanks, Johnathan Thomas-Wayne Crossland.
D’s: Nevin Garrett Deacon, Joseph Caleb Morris Delong, Ashton Kelly Downer, Kyle Isaac Dunbar, Kyle Hunter Durrette, Jonah Allen Dwiggins.
E’s: Joseph Tanner Edwards, Dalayne Jean Elmore, Amie Leighann Engler.
F’s: Caitlin Denise Fields, Harley Montana Forbes, Heavenlee Faith Suzanne Fortescue, Austin Lee Frazier.
G’s: Annique Tricynthia Gadson, Christian Henry Gavin, Stacy Ann Gavin, Dylan Joel Gibson, Christopher Dale Gilbert, Emilee Dawn Givens, Allison Terra Graham, Natalie Gray Griffith.
H’s: Kaylie Elizabeth Hampton, Megan Rose Harris, Joseph Conlee Hartl, Dustin Brian Hawk, Kathryn Alexis Haymaker, Dakota Cheyenne Hedrick, Harley Christopher Hill, Kolby Marie Hiner, Olivia Nicole Hines, Vanna Nicole Hoke, Charles Anthony Honaker, Melissa Anne Howdershelt, Sean Allen Howes, Courtney Alexis Hubbard, Hannah Madison Humphries, Walker Lee Humphries, Marleyna Lynn Hyler.
J’s: Crista Lee-Ann Johnson, Kenneth Franklin Jones III.
K’s: David Boothe Kahle, Emily Ann Karn, Morgan Nicole Keith, Taazha Riana Kincaid, Christopher Thornton Kirkland, Aimee Krabbe.
L’s: Devin Tyler Lane, Alexandra Renee Lefler, Stephanie Kallene Leggett, Bailee Shae Leitch, Elaina Grace Leitch, Hannah Marie Leitch, Tyler Austin Lewis, Ira Davis Loan, Mya Renea Looney.
M’s: Kayla Christine Malliard, Andrew Steven Makauskas, Taylor Brooke Malcom, Jaden Torrence May, Colin Matthew McClintic, Morgan Jessey McClung, John Wesley McLear IV, Jordan Isaac McPeek, Eddie Thomas Meadows III, Regan LeeAnn Meadows, Stephanie Alondra Medina, Thomas Perry Mick, Travis Lamar Miller, Alivia Dawn Morgan, Rebekah Elissa Morgan, Anthony Jordan Moses, Kelsey Brooke Moses, Karen Cheyenne Mundy, Emily Gabrielle Myers.
N’s: George Jacob Nelson, Hailey Faith Nicely, Jereme William Nicely, River Isaac Nicely, Unika Michelle Nicely, William Chase Nicely, Dustin Wallace Nida,
O’s: Desmond Hunter Christopher Ottey, Jennifer Lynn Ozimek.
P’s: Branden Michael Persinger, Shantell Renee Petty, Spencer Cole Phillips, Gabriella Helene Pichette, Colton Gil Poague, Alexis Kate Porterfield, Hope Rae-Ann Proffitt.
R’s: Nicholas Jeremiah Raether Jr., Mailek Shawn Ray, Nehemiah Richmond Reeves, Gavin Enrique Reyes, Kristen Taylor Reynolds, Brandon Tyler Richardson, Kalen Deshawn Richmond, Logan Gray Robertson, Taylor-Dale Nicole Robertson, Sidney Marie Robinson, Anamaria Teresa Rodriguez, Malcolm Isaiah Jaquis Roman, Briana Lynn Ryder.
S’s: Shyann Deizray Sammons, Isabella Faith Sartain, Robert Dale Saville, Alexis Faith Schultz, Zachary Tyler Sexton, Makenzie Kathryn Shifflett, Zachary Christopher Silver, Jonathan Zachary Sizer, Colby Ridge Skidmore, Erin Brooke Smith, Hunter Madison Smith, Shae Destiny Smith, Tristan Glenn Smith, Zakalia JaQuan-Karolyn Smith, Bryar Evan Snead, Brandon Matthew Sponaugle, Jewelya Eloise-Marie Staton, Averiana Amaru Stewart, Liam Emery Sweeney.
T’s: Bailey Grace Taylor, Caleb Mason Taylor, Maggie Rae Thompson, Caitlyn Elisabeth Tierney, Christopher Parker Tingler Jr., Karly Paige Tingler, Dawson Lee Tolley, Montana McDowell Travis, Dominic Lysandre Trice, Caleb Joseph Tucker, Cheyanne Elizabeth May Tucker, Christopher Bryan Tucker Jr., Kaitlyn Faith Tucker, Kayleigh Nicole Tucker, Zachary Taylor Tucker.
W’s: Heath Knighton Wade, Haydon Steve Washburn, Kathryn Lee Westbury, Ryan Charles Whiting, Austin Wayne Wilhelm, Preston Miguel Williamson, Matthew Dudley Wilson II, Marissa Dawn Wolfe, Samuel Jude Wood, Kyle Austin Wright, Sierra Marie Wright.
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Alleghany High School graduate Kelsey Moses, left, gets a kiss from her father, Doug Moses, following graduation ceremonies held Saturday morning at Mountaineer Field. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
