By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – The threat of rain gave way to a great evening featuring a beautiful rainbow as bright as the future ahead for the 83 Tucker County High School graduates that gathered Thursday at the R.H. Armstrong Field at the Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium in Parsons.
Skyler Humphrey performed the National Anthem, followed by the Salutatorian Address by Kaylee Nedrow and Valedictorian Address by Jonna Burnside.
Kaylee said she has dreamed of her graduation day and giving a speech since she was a young child. She thanked teachers and administrators who helped her along her journey and reminisced with friends about past times. She encouraged her fellow classmates to be proud.
“I want you all to be proud of where we came from, but most of all, be proud of your future, or rather, make your future something you are proud of, no matter what it ends up being,” Kaylee said. “Be proud of yourself, but not prideful toward others. Find the balance between the two opposing words, pride and prideful and what they entail.”
Kaylee thanked her family and her ‘Sunday at noon’ family crew including her Nana, Poppy, Grandma Martin, Cindee, Scott, Coty, Marcy, Scotty, the girlies and Case.
“You’ve been there through all of my phases and moments big and small,” Kaylee said. “I’m proud to be a part of our family.”
Jonna told her classmates it seems like yesterday they were all nervous wrecks about moving up to Tucker County High School.
“The fear of the unknown terrified us – new teachers, new classmates and new responsibilities,” Jonna said. “And now we stand united. We are no longer divided by Davis Thomas kids, Tucker Valley kids or new kids, but we are as one group – the Tucker County High School Class of 2016.”
Jonna said through good times and hard times, to never forget the great times TCHS gave to them.
“Let us not forget the hard work and dedication to our studies that got us here and let us not forget the struggle of balancing sports, theater, band and other extracurricular activities as well as job responsibilities with school work,” Jonna said. “It took a lot to get here and I think we should be proud of what we have accomplished.”
Graduates of the Tucker County High School Class of 2016 are: Jonna Renea Burnside, Kaylee Anne Nedrow, Zoe Jordan Sypolt, Taylor Kristine Ambrose, Amanda Faye Harper, John Everett Chambers, Alexis Dianne Roth, Brandon Bruce Moran, Cheala Renee Hackney, Cortney Jo Haddox, Alexis Jade Adkins, Bethany S Barwinczak, Andrew Bailey Bennett, Sierra Brooke Bennett, Zachary Sean Bishoff, Scottie Grace Bowley, Aidan Luke Bunnell, Lesley Nicole Cale, Sydney Danielle Cangley, John Paul Castells, Brianna N. Collar, Hunter Frederick Davis, Cody Lee Dumire, Seth Allen Evans, Abbey Danielle Eye, Dakota Ryan Eye, Kyra Brooke Fenstermacher,
Christopher Gordon Floyd, Zackary Sherman Freeman, Evan William Fridley, Brent Matthew Gidley, Olivia Shannon Goff.
Hunter Dylan Hardy, Lindsay Brooke Herron, Isaiah Ronald Hollis, Lukas Ryan Howard, Skyler James Humphrey, Alexis Nichole Hunt, Dylan Michael Husk, Ross Payton Johnson, Hayley Elizabeth Jones,
Timmy Lee Kemphfer Jr., Daniel Paul Kisamore, Jarred William Knight, Lindsey Elizabeth Knotts, Austin Hunter Lambert, Johnathan Charles Lambert, Mikayla Grace Long, Matthew Ryan Louk,
Marcus Allen Mason, Charlene Ranee Maxwell, Eric Michael Lee Mccrum, Seth Ryan Michael,
Tiffany Renea Mitchell, Lydia Jo Mullenax, Summer Cheyenne Nelson, Tyler Scott Nelson, Austin Wayne Nestor, Leslie Danielle Nestor , Lily Renee Nestor, Conner Miles Oldaker, Amanda Marie Pennington.
Mary Cathrine Pennington, Cheyenne Phillips, Taylor Ann Prevatte, Christopher DeWayne Purnell, Madison Brooke Reall, Jonathan Michael Smith, Jasper Wayne Snyder, Denise Jade Spitznogle,
Kyle Hunter Stemple, Lukas Daniel Thompson, Summer Dawn Vance, Corie Vandevander, Kelley Marie Wagner, James Bradley Wardwell, Natasha Anne Ware, Jenna Marie White, Destaney Hope Wilson, Kayla Breanne Wolford, Nicholas Hunter Wolford and Jacob Alexander Wood.