Chatham grads ‘face a lot of firsts’

Chatham High School’s class of 2008 will probably appreciate escaping the sizzling heat that was brewing Saturday outside of the E. Stuart James Grant Convocation Center.

Averett’s facility was packed with hundreds of family, friends and well-wishers as seniors took their places to accept their diplomas. A serious traffic backup was fixed by Danville police shortly before the graduation ceremony.

Senior Raven Fuller said it was hard to believe graduation had arrived. She said many members of the graduating class attended school together before they wound up at Chatham. Fuller also thanked her Lord for seeing her through, and reminded her classmates they are not alone.

“Responsibility is now a part of us,” she said.

Elizabeth Cassada, co-valedictorian, said God has a plan for each person. They must learn to trust him to find that path.

Cassada said they face a lot of firsts in their future. College orientation, the first day of college, their first job — and the first love of their life. She will remember her years at Chatham High, but there are more challenges to faces in the future.

“Even if it means leaving behind much of what we’ve known,” she said.

Co-Valedictorian Kelly Montgomery said the graduating class is ready to stand up and take the next step. No one in the class of 2008 was perfect, but they learned a lot about themselves because they are not perfect.

“Good came from the bad,” she said.

School faculty members Barbara Brown and Steve Welch were serenaded with the song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” for years of service to the Chatham High. Brown will become principal of Tunstall High School and Welch takes over at Woodlawn Academy.

School officials announced that seniors going on to college were awarded $902,968 in scholarships.

Contact Bernard Baker at or at (434) 791-7986