25 graduate from NHS

ROSSTON – Twenty-five seniors entered the Nevada school gym Thursday night and 25 graduates exited 30 minutes later.

Thursday was graduation for the Class of 2023 at Nevada High School, with the gym packed with family, relatives, friends and other well-wishers, many arriving before 6 p.m. though the commencement exercise didn’t start until 7 o’clock.

Principal Tonda Pennington welcomed the guests, saying the district is excited and honored to be able to host such an event. To the seniors she said, “We look forward to seeing you make the world a better place.”

Nakia Prater followed with the honor’s address. She talked about how the class had learned many new things, was able to take a trip to the Big Apple in 2022, calling it one of the greatest experiences of the year and thanked her classmates for the memories.

This was followed by Kaylie Russo and Tyneshia Young giving the teacher appreciation. Russo talked about coming from a different district, but the teachers helped her fit in and make  her more comfortable in her new surroundings while pushing her to do her best. Young thanked them for making sure the seniors attended classes throughout this year, along with the passion they have for  instructing young minds. She said the teachers at Nevada made this an exceptional year.

Next up were Lily Hampton and LaQyualion Christopher, with the parent appreciation speech. Both talked about how they wouldn’t be who and where they are without the help of their parents. Hampton said their parents never let them down and have been their biggest supporters throughout the years. While it was unsaid, she continued, they knew their parents would never give up on them, and their growing up isn’t over yet. Christopher said it’s because of the parents the students made it to the end of this chapter of their lives.

JaNiya Harper provided the class farewell, saying their childhood has come to an end and the one thing they weren’t taught was how to say goodbye to their friends. Graduation, she said, is a day of celebration they’ll remember the rest of their lives.

Roy McCoy, superintendent, sent the class out into the world with thoughts from the song “I Hope You Dance”, which came out in 2000. For him, he said, these past 23 years have been a brief moment, but are more than a lifetime to the graduates.

Using lyrics from the song, McCoy said this is one tiny moment in a lifetime of moments to remember and he hopes they never lose their sense of loyalty and not take a single breath for granted, to never fear the mountains in the distance as they’re about to enter a world of choice and change. Some won’t be easy, others will. “I believe in you because you believe in yourselves,” he said.

He ended by reminding the graduates to tell the people in their lives they love them.

From there, diplomas were handed out, the graduates confirmed and mortarboards flew into the air.