It was overcast outside, but that did not dampen the mood of the seniors, faculty, family, and friends who came together to celebrate graduation for the class of 2023 inside the Central Gym. The Student Government president Zyriah Meadows led the attendees in the “Pledge of Allegiance,” and Board of Education Chairperson Tiffany McCain sang the national anthem.
Assistant principal, Shundell Russaw, welcomed the attendees and applauded the work of the graduates and the promise they embodied. Speeches by salutatorian, Makenna Sanders, and valedictorian, Zyriah Meadows, took their classmates down memory lane and inspired them to keep achieving. Counselor Annette Long announced the graduates as principal Brandi Lee awarded the seniors their diplomas with assistant principal Shundell Russaw and Superintendent of Education David Stover congratulating the students in the receiving line.
Seniors and attendees shared a special moment as the seniors remembered their classmate, Ashlynn Sims, who passed away in 2017.
Principal Lee then instructed the seniors to turn their tassels to signify they were graduates and celebrate their achievement by tossing their caps.
The seniors closed out the ceremony by coming together one last time to sing the Central High School Alma Mater. “Once a Cougar, Always a Cougar” spirit was in the Central Gym as the attendees joined the seniors in singing the Alma Mater. Congratulations to our 2023 graduates; we look forward to your continued achievements.
