NHS presents 26 with diplomas at graduation

ROSSTON – Cloudy skies and the threat of rain did nothing to dampen graduation night for the seniors at Nevada High School Thursday.

People started arriving shortly after 5 p.m. though the commencement exercise wouldn’t begin until 7 o’clock. Nobody seemed to mind waiting. By the time “Pomp and Circumstance” began playing, the gym was packed with parents, friends and family members, all on hand to witness a milestone in the lives of the 26 young men and women taking the next step in their lives.

Carol Foster, principal, gave the opening remarks, welcoming everyone and thanking the parents for their support and allowing the district to play a role in their children’s lives these past 13 years.

Brycten Harris gave the honors address, thanking everyone again for sticking with the class and for working to get the best out of them. He said the class is taking its next step toward the future, though many may not know where they’ll be going or what their future may hold. He reminded his classmates life won’t be easy or fair.

Alexis Smith followed with the teacher and parent appreciation. She talked about the influence they’ve had on them saying without the parents and teachers they may not be where they are today. We couldn’t be more thankful, she added, and would be different people without our parents.

Zekiah Strickland was next up with the class farewell. He said they were filled with a “whirlwind of emotions” along with a sense of accomplishment. He pointed out the class is energized, stronger, wiser and ready to take on the world and will be working to raise the curtain higher as they step onto the grand stage of their future. “Our stories will be legendary,” he said, adding the class knows how to work hard enough to make it anywhere. “We are launching ourselves into a world of endless possibility.”

Superintendent Roy McCoy was the final speaker. He said it’s always wonderful to recognize another senior class. He told the audience a story about an old car. The story goes a father gave his daughter an old car when she graduated and told her to take it to a car lot to see what it would offer. She did, returning and telling her father they offered $1,000 to buy it. He next tells her to take it to a pawnshop and see what they’d pay for it. She did, and told her father the pawnshop offered $100. Now he tells her to take it to a local car club and see what someone would offer there. She was astounded, telling her father the offer was $100,000. This was because the “old car” was a 1963 Corvette Stingray with split windows. The father told his daughter the right place would value her and if her value isn’t seen, she’s in the wrong place.

He told the seniors they need to know their own value and not let anyone else decide it for them. He pointed out they’ll meet people who don’t know their value and they should not only know their value but the value of others. “The word for that,” he said, “is respect.”

Diplomas were handed out, and mortarboards flew as the ceremony came to an end.