Pickens High School Salutes Seniors at Graduation Ceremony

Community, Featured Stories

The Pickens High School Class of 2013 participated in their graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1st, allowing for all of those in attendance to see the 245 students that were a part of the class. The day’s addresses began with senior vice president Christian Gibson giving the invocation. Following Gibson’s prayer was a welcome by Principal Eddie McDonald, followed by the introduction of speaker Rodney Martin by senior class secretary and treasurer Hannah Land.

Martin, who teaches Physical Science and Chemistry at PHS, began his speech with jokes and entertaining memories provided by the graduated class but then shifted towards his message to the crowd: that everyone has a purpose, a place, and a plan in life, even if at times it may not seem that way.

Martin went on to discuss how this played out in his own life, explaining to the audience how he had resigned from his position at PHS and the immediate effect it had on him, saying

“Instead of being relieved, when I walked out the door that day in 2009 I missed it already. I missed it before I got out of Dragon Drive…”

Despite the improbability of the situation, Martin was able to get his job back at the high school, which he attributed to the theme of his speech, saying

“There was a purpose for me. There’s a place for me, and there’s a plan for me. And it’s this place that showed me that, and it’s your children that showed me that.”

Once Mr. Martin returned to his seat, salutatorian Amber Shields took to the podium. Shields took her time to thank all of the people who had helped her reach her full potential and also read “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley, which boasts a moral that Shields explained as being that

“no act of kindness is ever too small. Everyone can make a difference in the world if they believe they can.”

Next up on the stage was valedictorian Taylor Boggus, who made sure to start the speech by thanking her fellow graduates for “waking up so early and wearing something else other than sweatpants and a t-shirt.” Boggus went on to thank all of her family, teacher, and friends that had a positive impact on her life and also discussed what serving others really means to her, saying

“Service is usually thought of as volunteer work, donating to charity, or attending church activities. Service isn’t a social event or something done to look good on a college application. After being involved in FCA and mission trips, I have learned the true definition of service.”

Boggus’ speech was then followed by the awarding of diplomas, which was handled by Pickens County superintendent Dr. Ben Desper, PHS principal Eddie McDonald, and PHS English teacher Todd Geren, who read off the 245 names.

Once all of the diplomas had been given out, senior class president Makayla Angel took to the podium to speak to the crowd. Angel talked about how the high school’s dropout rate had dropped dramatically over the years along with all of the advances that man has made during the life of her great-grandfather (who was in attendance), leading her to a very interesting question:

“What [change] will we help facilitate?”

Angel’s speech concluded all of the addresses for the ceremony, which left only one act left: the tossing of the caps.

FYN would like to congrat the Pickens High School Class of 2013 on a job well done and wish them nothing but the best in the future.

Video of the ceremony can be viewed below. If you are interested in purchasing a DVD of the ceremony, please contact FetchYourNews at 706-276-6397.

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