Charlene Hoeflich/photo - Above: Kimi Swisher, left, and Amber Hockman, valedictorians of the Meigs High School Class of 2009 lead the procession of 148 graduates toward the Larry R. Morrison Auditorium. Just behind them were Jennifer Fife, left, and Calee Reeves, class salutatorian.
Valedictorians Amber Hockman and Kimi Swisher spoke to the 148 members of the 2009 graduating class about lifestyle changes facing them as they move from high school into the adult world.
Hockman compared those changes to a horse race.
“Up to this point we have been preparing for the race. High school is when we get the horse into the right gate, and today is when the gate flings open.” She spoke of the expectations of parents and teachers for the class of 2009, and her confidence that hard work by the graduates will pay off.
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift,” said Swisher in her valedictory speech, quoting from Steve Prefonaine. “Putting forth my best effort at whatever I am trying to accomplish has helped me maintain my focus and remind me that true success can be achieved only with complete and total effort.”
Her challenge to the class was to never give anything less than your best regardless of where you go in life or what you do, give your all.
Salutatorian Calee Reeves spoke of the uncertainty of the future and then challenged the graduates to apply the lessons learned over the past 13 years, and go out into the world and make an impact.
She concluded with a Gandhi quote, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
In their maroon and gold gowns, the graduates entered the auditorium to “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the Meigs Marauder Band, directed by Toney Dingess. The program opened with the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Aaron Oliphant, and the invocation by Mason Dale Metts. James Ernie Welsh, president of the senior class, gave the welcome and Zachary Selden Story, treasurer, made introductions before “Not Afraid to Dream” was played by the band.
Meigs high School Principal Steve Ohlinger presented the class to Scott Walton, Meigs Local Board of Education president, who awarded diplomas as Kerri Anne VanReeth, class secretary, read the names. Crockett McKay Crow, class vice president, led in the symbol of graduation.
Graduation concluded with the Marauder Band playing the alma mater, benediction by Matthew Jacob Hosken, and the recessional to “Fanfare and Recessional” by the band.
Graduating were Nichol Kay Andrus, Lacee Kay Arms, Jamie Rae Bailey, Wyatt Marshall Ball, William Kenneth Barcus, Ashley Nicole Bell, Caleb Dwight Bevan, Brittany Michelle Black, Adrian Nicole Bolin, Cecil Clayton Bolin, Chad Michael Bonnett, Virginia Madeline Brickles, Craig Alan Capehart, Patrick Tyler Carey, Joshua David Cleland, Jaerianne Nichole Colley, Brittany Mae Collins, Skylar Scott Compton, Cody Allen Cook, Crockett McKay Crow, Alexandria Nicole Cullums, Brittany Nicole Cundiff.
Deanna Marie Cundiff, Chelsea Lynn Davis, Le’Anna Ruchel Davis, Nathaniel Kenton Davis, Olivia Rose Davis, David Lee Day, Kenneth Bryan DeLong, Henry George Doerfer, Destiny Rochelle Dotson, Matthew Lee Dunkle, Hailey Marie Ebersbach, Caitlin Jo Edwards, James Thomas Evans, Emily Loren Fields, Jannifer Ann Fife, Joshua Scott Frederick, Shawntay Delyne Antionette Garnes, Holley Nicole Geary, Adam Jordan George, Kayla Lyn Gheen, Laura Beth Gheen, Amanda Nicole Gilkey, Amanda Lynn Goode, Robert Nicholas Grover, Mary Marie Haggy, Noah Nazar Hajivandi, Christian Nicole Haley, Charles Brandon Hanning, Larry Thomas Hess, Gabriel Stephan Tyler Hill.
Steven Matthew Hoalcraft, Amber Renee Hockman, Hannah Kathleen Hoffman, Lian Marissa Hoffman, Jessica Marie Holliday, Matthew Jacob Hosken, Lucreshia Crystelle Howard, Sarah Jane Hubbard, Benjamin Wade Hudson, Corey Wayne Hutton, Lilly Ann Jacks, Patricia Joann Johnson Wilson, Raven Shawntelle Johnson, Whittney Dawn Johnson, Alexandria Marie Fae Jones, Clinton Ross Kennedy, Morgan Strauss Kennedy, Christopher Richard Thomas Kimes, Thomas Shane Klein, Heather Noel Lascelles, Cara Lyn Lawless, Stephanie Nicole Lawson, Bethany Dawn Lee, Morgan Kerry Lentes, Caitlin Taylor Leslie, Joshua Michael Lewis, Ashley Nicole Life, Branigan Christine Lone, Alyssa Rachelle Longstreth, Jahnna Marie Lydic, Stacy Morgan Macomber, Alysia Dawn Masters, Ashley Michelle Mayes, Courtney Ashlyne Mayes.
Robert Michael-Joseph McCarty, Samantha Wendy Marie McDonald, David Lee McGinnis, Jared William McKinney, Maria Lynn Meadows, Tela Kayla Cheyenne Meloy, Mason Dale Metts, Shayna Rae Morgan, Jason Daniel Morris, Joshua Michael Morris, Carl Thomas Murnahan, Jr., Jami Renee Myers, Lindsey Brooke Myers, Douglas Eugene Noel, Andrew Malcum O’Bryant, April Noel Oiler, Aaron Lee Oliphant, Rebecca Rhojean Owen, Brittany Danielle Parsons, Alexandria Kay Patterson, Raymond Eugene Patterson, Kenneth Charles Payne, Erin Rae Perkins, Samantha Jo Pridemore, Jesse Wayne Pullins, Sarah Renee Pullins, Ontna Mignon Quillen, Ripley Renee Raubenolt.
Calee Marie Reeves, Randall James Reeves, Jessamyn Shann Reynolds, Brian Keith Rice, Ruby Renae Richmond, Bobbi Lea Riffle, Sarah Renee Roach, Denzil Lee Roberts III, Ashley Marie Romines, Amorette Marie Salser, Kelsey Mark Sauters, Chelsea Rhae Smallwood, Megan Michelle Smith, Tracy Dawn Smith, Melissa Alexandria Snowden, Devan Mariah Soulsby, Zachary Selden Story, Caitlin Tyler Swartz, Kimberly Leigh-Anne Swisher, Robin Lee Taylor, Melissa Rose Thomas, Tessa Jo Thomas, Joseph Vincent Urbankes, Josi Renee VanMeter, Kerri Anne VanReeth, Mary Elizabeth Ann Ward, James Ernie Welsh, Christi Luarie Will, Briana Nicole Willis, Patricia Joann Johnson Wilson, Chassidy Danielle Wills, Nicholas Lee Wise, Catie Michelle Wolfe, and Jacob Christopher Workman.
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