The Shadow
Newest Graduates – Kyler Lewis, left, and Patrick Burns, members of the Alleghany High School Class of 2013, pose for photos outside the Convocation Center on the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College campus following AHS commencement ceremonies Saturday morning. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
Newest Graduates – Kyler Lewis, left, and Patrick Burns, members of the Alleghany High School Class of 2013, pose for photos outside the Convocation Center on the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College campus following AHS commencement ceremonies Saturday morning. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
RECEIVES DIPLOMA — Alleghany Principal Fred Vaughan, left, presents a diploma to Joey Loughlin during Alleghany High School graduation ceremonies Saturday morning. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
RECEIVES DIPLOMA — Alleghany Principal Fred Vaughan, left, presents a diploma to Joey Loughlin during Alleghany High School graduation ceremonies Saturday morning. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
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BY KIRSTEN RICHARDSON
Staff Writer
CLIFTON FORGE – Students clad in red caps and gowns spotted the lawn outside Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Convocation Center Saturday morning.
After the Alleghany High School Class of 2013 entered, Fred Vaughan, principal of Alleghany High School, declared that of the 229 graduates:
– 69 were honor graduates;
– 192 plan to attend a two- or four-year college;
– 4 students anticipate serving in the United States military;
– 159 completed career and technical programs.
Vaughan reminded the graduates, “As you sit one final time and reflect on the past, be proud of your school, proud of your community. Your school careers have passed through some challenging times into today’s technology age.”
Alleghany High School 2013 valedictorian, Stephen Taylor, acknowledged the hard work that his class exerted to make it to their graduation seats.
He praised them saying, “They deserve this day to bask in the glory of their achievements.”
Before closing, Taylor added, “We’ve been the best class at Alleghany High School. Ever. And we will be the best that the world has ever seen. We will use what we learned in the past to have the best possible future. But, for today, guys, enjoy your graduation. You earned it.”
Salutatorian Maegan Walton spoke sentimentally about high school.
During her speech, Walton shared, “The greatest lesson that high school has taught me is that we all have the power to choose. If there is one thing that I would ask of each one of you today, is that you choose to live a life that other people will want to remember. Choose a life full of happiness, choose to love others, and choose to love yourself. Choose to do your best as you move on from here.”
Norman Persinger, chairman of the Alleghany County School Board, spoke to the students for several minutes. Noting that many of the graduates will move away, he encouraged them not to forget from where they came. “Consider this, coming back to the Alleghany Highlands to donate… Be proud of your heritage,” he said.
Alleghany High School Class of 2013 President Austin Cole disclosed to the audience that the class gift was $5 million for the installation of a heating and cooling system in the high school.
After the cheers subsided Cole added, “You do understand that that was a blatant lie?”
When the laughter died down, Cole proceeded to share that the Class of 2013 is having new metallic lettering placed on the front of the high school. JENFAB, Inc. is donating the project to the school.
The class is equally gifting the four core departments (English, history, mathematics, and science) with the remaining funds.
AHS Assistant Principal John Hutchison recognized Analea Deeds for having perfect attendance, not only in high school, but since kindergarten.
The concert choir performed “In My Life” and the Senior Concert Choir performed “My Wish.”
Diplomas were awarded to the 2013 graduates by the high school administration. They include:
Jessica Jeana Alexander, Sa’Nika La’Shay Allen, Hunter Nicole Ardry, Jhakee Vandail Avant, Eric Matthew Barbour, Seth Allen Belcher, Amanda Megan Benoit, Sidney Elcan Birchfield, Keller Kerr Black-burn, Jamie Kay Blankenship, Nicholas Shane Bocook, Brandon Tyler Booth, Hanna Shea Boothe, Samantha Renee Bowers, Cole Hamilton Bradley, Jacob Warren Bradshaw, Hannah Noelle Brantley, Joey McKinley Brewster Jr., Marisa Danielle Brogan, Kaitlin Marie Brookman, Kennedy Maxine Brooks, Jonathon Lee Brown, Joshua Cane Brown, Darin Wayne Buckner Jr., Codi Virginia Burgess, DeAndre Lentez Burks, Dominique Kathrine Burks.
Patrick Chase Burns, Caitlyn Ann Caldwell, Erika Cheyenne Cales, Janessa Mona Calloway-Jones, Brooke Nicole Campbell, Christopher Aaron Canterbury, Caitlyn Elizabeth Carpenter, Kaylie Faythe Carter, Hope Faith Catlett, Courtney Leigh Charles, Jeremiah Wesley Charles, Logan Cheyenne Chaudoin, Rebekah Grace Church, Sarah Lauren Church, Shane Stafford Clarke, Richard Austin Cole, Kasandra Ann Contreras, Mariah Dean Cooper, Jonah Dare Cottrell, Courtney Nicole Cox, Ryan Joseph Crance, Jackleen Faith Crizer, Brittney Jo Crowder, Kameron James Crowell, Myia Maria Crowell, Gabrielle Cuza, Sierra Dawn Daily, Breann Nicole Daven-port, Richard Ethan Davis, Sarah Michelle Deacon.
Analea Marie Deeds, Kaitlyn Grace Dempsey, Mykayla Rabekah Donahue, Kayla Hope Douglas, Jared Ryan Downer, Justin Michael Dunbar, Jessica Faye Dunihue, Jonah Stephen Eggleston, Natasha Nicole Faulkner, Jason Edward Fischer, Mary Hollie Fix, Rosalie Rae Fix, Amy Catherine Fornwalt, James Ethan Frazier, Samantha Lee Fridley, Haley Michelle Glover, Olivia Cheyenne Godbold, Hallie Dayne Gunter, Braden Grey Hall, Brandon Lee Hall, Kassie Elizabeth Hall, Lacy Marie Hall, Rachel Nicole Hall, Steven Eugene Hall III, William Chase Halterman, Tanner Alexander Harmon, Gavin Lee Hawk, Kala Rai Hayslett.
Trevon Quadre Helton, Mark Andrew Hendricks II, Hayden Nicholas Hicks, Linda Sue Ann Hicks, William Lee Higgins Jr., Andrew Tyler Hill, Casey Danielle Hinkle, Katie Jean Hinkle, Miranda Lynn Hinkle, Kelsey Renee Hinton, Taylor Lawrence Hippert, Brandi Nicole Hise, Devante Maurice Holliday, Miranda Nickole Hoover, Ethan Lewis Howard, Kayla Denise Hughson, Whitley Leanna Huguley, Levi Curtis Hugus, Benjamin Cole Humphries, Jeffrey Austin Humphries, Meghan Rose Hurt, Larry Wayne Irvine Jr., Paige Nicole Irvine, Brian Alexander Javins, Antonio Terrell Jeter, Kayla Elizabeth Johnson, Alexis Jordan Keith, Michaela Paige Kern, Dawnyale Nicole Key.
Jaimee Leigh Kimberlin, Hanna Nicole Kirby, Racheal Bernice Lattimer, James William Lawhorn, Hannah Gabrielle Lee, Kyler Tyrone Lewis, Amber Regina Lockhart, Rafael Lopez Jr., Charles Joseph Loughlin, Emily Ann Loving, James Caleb Lowe, Andrienne Nicolle Luckett, Makayla Christine May, Matthew Thomas Maydian, Michael Waylon Maydian, Faith Kaylyn McClung, James Lee McCutchen Jr., Kayla Elaine McKoy, Dustin Theodore Miller, Yanneth Mireles, Robert Henry Moore, Addison Walker Morgan, Caleb Michael Moul, Cora Bethany Moyers, Cole Mitchell Mullins, Cole Andrews Murray.
Carl Wayne Nelson, Albert Dewayne Nicely, Autumn Hope Nicely, Cimarron Boone Nicely, DeWayne Aaron Nicely, Ethan Matthew Nicely, Justin Lee Nicely, Kaitlin Breann Nida, Kathren Cydnee O’Conner, Thomas Austin O’Conner, Derek Jeffrey O’Connor, Whitley Antoinette Blayne Oliver, Laura Ashley Pardue, Joshua Floyd Paxton, Justin Dwaine Paxton, Zachary Thomas Pazdera, Halley Victoria Pendleton, Logan Parker Pendleton, Sarah Jean Perala, Adam Tyler Perdue, Alan-Michael Lewis Perkins, Kendall Abram Persinger, Montana Dawn Persinger, Taylor Shay Persinger, Logan Lynn Peters, Samuel James Poe, Anna Victoria Preston.
Olivia Brooke Price, Aaron Gregory Ratliff, Alex Christian Reed, Chloe Bennington Reid, Brandon Lee Rice, Heather Renae Richardson, Michael Lawrence Richardson, Katelyn Marissa Riley, Tiffany Amber Rose, Emily Evans Ross, Emma Marie Rothe, Kasey Star Ruble, Daniel Tanner Seay, Patrick Gordon Seckner, Brady Allen Seldomridge, Neil Christian Seldomridge, Haden McCaleb Sellers, Whitley Faith Sheppard, Lacey Brooke Shifflett, Angel Noel Shiflett, Austin James Skelding, Jessica Eryn Smith, Mikayla Shawnee Smith, Olivia Paige Smith, Daniel Craig Sorrels, Brittany Morgan Southall, Chynna Schuyler Southall, Jordan Nicole Spraker, Zoe Alexis Stein, Seanne Micala Stull.
Toby Lee Taliaferro, George Alexander Taylor, Kayla Marie West Taylor, Stephen James Taylor, Haley Elisabeth Terry, Travis Lyn Terry, Christa Marie Thomas, Cody Allen Thompson, Emily Krystine Timbrook, Caleb Andrew Tincher, Amber Leigh Tingler, Ashli Nicole Tingler, Hannah Grace Tingler, Joseph Eli Walker Tolley, Ermias Robert Tosatto, Akasha Witchey Traver, Dalton Michael Unroe, Keaton Andrew Unroe, Gage Dayton Vail, Jovan Kisembo Vainqueur, Chance Aaron Van Buren, Nehemiah Waylon Vance, Christian Claude Kent Vess, Michael Weldon Vest, Katelyn Kelli Via, Maegan Leigh Walton, Tiana Nicole Warlitner, Donald Ross Welsh, David Austin Wiersteiner, Carolina Victoria Wolfe, Michael Scott Wolfe, Christina Daniele Wright.
