Southern High School Holds Commencement Ceremony for Class of 2014

The Southern High School Class of 2014 officially became alumni on Saturday, May 24, when Southern High School held its commencement ceremony. Friends and family of the graduates, as well as the community of Racine, gathered at Southern High School at 8 P.M. Saturday night to honor 49 seniors as they began their journey beyond high school.

Pomp and Circumstance, performed by the Southern High School band, welcomed the seniors into the gym as they walked two by two onto the stage. The ceremony opened with a welcome from the class president Ryan Daugherty, and the invocation was delivered by Jamie O’ Brien. The Marching Tornado seniors then joined the rest of the band for their last performance of their high school careers. The band, under the direction of Chad Dodson, performed “In Flight,” a piece by Samuel R. Hazo. After the performance, the seniors of the band gathered with Dodson and shared an emotional group hug.

Valedictorian Darien Diddle and Salutatorian Sarah Lawrence shared the podium for a unique dual-address. Their speech centered on the theme of being careful of what you say and living in the moment, as they advised their fellow classmates that there are three things in life that you can’t get back; the stone after it’s thrown, the word after it’s said, and the time after it’s passed. The Class of 2014 were then recognized by Daniel Otto, school principal, as Tony Deem, superintendent, presented the class to President of the Southern Local Board of Education, Denny Evans, who then presented the students their diplomas, with Deem and board member Dennis Teaford presenting diplomas to their sons. After all of the diplomas were handed out, Daugherty led the class in the ceremonial changing of the tassels, signifying to step from student to alumnus. The students then were played out of the gymnasium by the Southern band, taking their last steps in Southern High School.

Students were excited to have finally finished their high school career. Daugherty shared that he was “more than excited to have graduated and become an alumnus of Southern High School.” Some are still in disbelief the moment has finally arrived. “I cannot believe how fast my time in high school went,” quipped class of 2014 member Damon Ledford. He also mentioned that Southern is an “excellent school” and being an alumnus is “an honor.” Many graduates are ready to begin their lives after high school. “I’m very excited to start the next chapter of my life and see what my future has in store,” graduate Lacey Hupp said.

In addition to Diddle and Lawrence, other honorarians are Nathan Leamond, Ryan Daugherty, Lacey Hupp, Chris Yeater, Brandon Grueser, Jamie O’Brien, Amy Bennett, and Katie Jenkins. Other recognitions included Diddle for receiving an honors diploma, and National Honor Society members Darien Diddle, Ryan Daugherty, Brandon Grueser, Jamie O’Brien, Lacey Hupp, Katie Jenkins, Sarah Lawrence, Nathan Leamond, and Chris Yeater. Students in the 2014 graduating class are Austin Barton, Christopher Barton, Tyler Barton, Riley Beegle, Zachariah Beegle, Robin Bennett, Robert Blankenship, Kelsi Casto, Hannah Conley, Ryan Daugherty, Trenton Deem, Darien Diddle, Jacob Dixon, Jeffrey Dowell, Chandler Drummer, Sarah Eakins, Brandon Grueser, Cameron Harmon, Shyanne Harper, Celestia Hendrix, Rowan Holsinger, Jordan Huddleston, Baylee Hupp, Lacey Hupp, Wyatt Jarrell, Katie Jenkins, Hunter Johnson, Joshua Justis, Travis Kimes, Sarah Lawrence, Nathan Leamond, Damon Ledford, Devon Ledford, Jamal Lee, Drewlyn Lemley, Ciera Marcinko, Taylor McNickle, Brandon Moodispaugh, Dylan Matson, Jamie O’Brien, Aaron Payne, Casey Pickens, Ashlyn Pickett, Alexander Sayre, Allison Taylor, Dennis Teaford, Colten Walters, Jason Warner, Joyce Weddle, Christopher Yeater. Class of 2015 members Gage Smith, Kevin Perry, Bethany Theiss, and Chais Michael assisted with the ceremony.