| By GLENDA CAUDLE
Special Features Editor
When members of the Union City High School Class of 2013 receive their diplomas Sunday evening, in a ceremony that will begin at 8 at War Memorial Stadium on the campus, they will represent an investment in higher education of more than $3.5 million.
That is the amount of scholarship assistance being offered to the graduates this year, according to a spokesman for the school.
While this is, indeed, cause for celebration, members of the class are asking that those in attendance reserve their celebratory response until the close of the event. This request ensures that the occasion is treated with the dignity it deserves and that each graduate will have their own respectful moment in the spotlight, since family members are asked to stand as the students’ names are called and they come forward to receive their diplomas. When some in the audience do not heed this request, it means the next graduate’s name or their honors or future plans may not be heard by those who have come to show their pride in the class. Maintaining a dignified silence while names are called and celebrating at the end of the ceremony are simply good manners and a way to close out the graduates’ school years with the highest respect, according to Director of Schools Gary L. Houston.
Savannah Blackwell, class president, will welcome graduates and their family and friends and will offer the invocation. The Class of 2013 valedictorian, Garrett David Ransom, and the salutatorian, Victoria Leah Reedy, will address the assembly.
UCHS principal Wes Kennedy is to present the class and Union City School Board chairman Glenda Caudle will award the diplomas. Houston will announce the acceptance of the class, to make the completion of their education in Union City schools official.
Class officers, in addition to Miss Blackwell, are vice president Tara Elam and secretary/treasurer Jacob Triplett.
Some of the honors earned by the class will be noted in the graduation program. These include those students who are graduating with state honors by virtue of having scored at or above all subject area readiness benchmarks in English (18), math (22), reading (21) and science (24) on the ACT or an equivalent score on the SAT.
Graduating with state distinction means a student has participated in the Governor’s School program, participated in one of the state’s All State musical organizations, been selected a National Merit Finalist or semi-finalist, attained a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT, attained a score of 3 or higher on at least two Advanced Placement exams and earned 12 or more semester hours of transcripted post-secondary credit.
Members of the UCHS Class of 2013 include Matthew Christian Adams (Magnet School, Tennessee Scholars, State Honors), Christopher Lynn Armstrong (MS, SH), Diamond Nicole Avery, Walker Lee Barnes (MS, Beta Club, SH), Brennan Lee Barnett, Patricia Ellen Bearden (MS, BC, SH, Top Ten), Colton Tyler Beeler (TS, SH), Bayron Lamont Bell, Savannah Diane Blackwell (MS, BC, TS, State Distinction), Macie Lynn Britt (SH), Abram Carroll (MS, BC, SH), Calyx Imari Clemons, Alexis Anne Coleman (TS), Andrew Neil Cooley (TS), William Christian Cousar (SH), Aalecia Shante Crittendon (TS), Aaliyah Elizabeth Daniels, Alexander Keathley Darnall (MS, TS, SH), Alisa Alexandria Davis, Brian Christopher Dawson, Diamond Chandre Dean, Patrice Lynna Dewalt, LaMonté Cortez Dickerson, Edward Parker Dotson (TS, SH), Tashiana Lateese Douglas, Dustin Lee Dues, Jasmine Nickole Dysart (TS), Ashley Brooke Edwards, Tara Marshall Elam (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT), Damesha Lashea Freeman, Ladarius Shaquan Fulton, Brett Lee Gore (MS, TS, SH, SD), Maria Guerrero, Aubree Anne Guess (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT), John Steven Harpole (MS, TS, SH), Richard Lynn Hempel Jr., Brandy Nicole Henry, Briana Shatae Henry, Destiny Marie Henry, Catherine Hunter Hicks (MS, SH), Akelia Breonia Higgins, Sadie Ann Hollis (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT), Keylon Jevar Hyde, Zachary Taylor Irvin, Victoria Kay Johnson, Jemonte Jeron Knight, Khiry Shevon Lewis, Timothy Caleb Long (BC, TS, SH), Daneshia Nicole McElrath, Jenna Morgan Miller (MS, BC, TS, SH), Clayton Michael Mize, Eric Lee Moore, Jalen A. Mosley, KeOntre A’quise Murrell, Deshawn Unquarius Nettles, Maria Elizabeth Ochoa Arriaga, Hunter Kelly Orr, Allyson Rene Parker, Drake Thomas Parker (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT), Darin Alexander Pegram (SH), Shamiah Ashanti Perry, Juan Angel Pina, Seeuntay Montez Pirtle, Destiny Rae Powers (MS, SH), Garrett David Ransom (MS, BC, TS, State Distinction, TT, valedictorian), Grant Solmon Ransom (MS, BC, TS, SD, TT), Zachary Wayne Reed (SH), Victoria Leah Reedy (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT, salutatorian), Aimee Isdarely Rodriguez, Travis Robert Rutland (MS, SH), Luke Bransford Searcy (MS, BC, TS, SH, TT), Joseph Edward Shanks (MS, BC, TS, SH), Amber Danielle Smith, Chloe Brianna Smithson (MS, BC, TS, SD, TT), Marquille Deandre Spears, Mollie Elizabeth Stone (MS, TS, SH), Aranda Marie Tate (MS), Chad Andrew Thayer, Clayton Alan Treece (BC, TS, SH), Jacob Thomas Triplett (MS, BC, TS, SH), Itzel Vazquez, Bradley Austin Webster, Emery Lane Whaley (TS, SH), Walter Barry Williams and Daniel Eric Williamson (MS, TS, SH).
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside to Union City Civic Auditorium, also located on the UCHS campus. Published in The Messenger 5.23.13 |
