By JENNY ALPAUGH – Editor in Chief
Clarke County School District students who were unable to graduate at the traditional May graduation ceremony have the opportunity to receive their diploma at the summer graduation.
Students who completed their high school education in summer school were able to graduate this August. Photos by Porter McLeod.
The Clarke County School District’s annual summer graduation was held August 22 at the Athens Community Career Academy. At the ceremony 13 of the 14 graduates were in attendance to receive their high school diploma, three of the students present were Clarke Central High School graduates.
CCHS Associate Principal Mary Thielman was the Principal of summer school this year and she emphasizes the importance of the summer graduation ceremony.
“I think the same experience of being able to celebrate with your friends and family the completion of your high school career should be equally available to students that do it at a time other than the traditional May graduation ceremony,” Thielman said.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Thielman, and afterwards CCHS summer school graduate Carlos Wise led the pledge of allegiance.
Then Classic City High School summer school graduate Avery Thomas introduced the guest speaker, Marcel Mincey.
Mincey’s speech was short and rhythmic. He gave the graduates tips and advice for the future, such as, “Success is a state of mind first, it doesn’t simply happen.”
Superintendent Dr. Philip Lanoue presented the diplomas along with Thielman. Family members and friends of the graduates cheered them on as they were handed their diplomas.
“As principal I am very proud of these students who walked across there because I know their story. It was a hard journey but they accomplished it,“ CCHS principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said.
Although these graduates were not able to walk across the stage in May with the rest of their senior class, they were able to reach the goal of becoming high school graduates. After the ceremony, CCHS summer school graduate Breaunna Brown shared her advice for current high school students.
“You should stay on your a-game in your ninth grade year, because I messed up my ninth grade year and it affected me my 12th grade year,” Brown said.
