Rockingham County High School graduates 262 seniors

The graduation: At 9 a.m. Saturday in the Rockingham County High School football stadium, 262 students received their high-school diplomas. The class was one of the largest graduating classes that Rockingham has ever had.

Keynote speaker: Kathy Cheek, a reporter for WXII Channel 12. Cheek told the graduates that the dates 2005-2009, representing the beginning and end of their high school years, aren’t as significant as the dash between 2005 and 2009, representing what the students have done between those two dates.

“Your achievements, accomplishments and relationships are part of that dash that went on here at Rockingham County High School between 2005 and 2009. You could look back at a lot of it with pride, but today’s also about looking forward,” Cheek said. “Regardless of where you are headed after today, you’ll be starting another dash. What will you do with your dash? … Will your dash make a difference in other people’s lives?”

From the student body president’s perspective: “We had a big variety of kids this year — a lot of different groups, but everybody gets along well together,” student body president Tyler Burchett said.

Burchett shared a lesson of “perseverance and hope” with the Class of 2009.

“All around us are examples of people who have put in hard work and dedication and wound up with things to be proud of,” Burchett said. “From the people I see every day, I have learned to make one’s own way in the world, one must work hard and persevere in whatever they do. I learned that lesson here in Rockingham.”

Burchett’s future plans are to attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., in the fall.

Challenge from the senior class president: “I challenge you to be bold and walk the path that God has planned for you,” senior class president Keenan Withers said. “Think about all the challenges that we’ve faced. … I conclude that all these challenges have made us stronger people.”

Memorable moment: Jasper Lamar Nicholson received a standing ovation when he walked across the stage to receive his high-school diploma. Nicholson was seriously injured in a car accident in September 2007 and was hospitalized for months. He has overcome being paralyzed and now is able to walk with the aid of a cane.

Class gift: Freshly-painted Cougar paws on the sidewalk and a senior rock that will be repainted every year by the senior class.

About the class: About $4,110,000 in scholarships and grants have been awarded to members of the graduating class. Eighteen seniors are continuing their athletic careers beyond high school. The school’s volleyball team had 23 wins, the most wins in a single season in school history. The team went undefeated in the conference. The baseball team won the conference tournament for three years in a row. The women’s basketball team made it to the final eight in the state tournament. The school had a state champion in pole vaulting this year. In music, the seniors helped lead the concert choir to superior ratings in the state contest for four years in a row. The graduating class has three teaching fellows, two nurse scholarships and one PARKS Scholar.

What the guidance counselor had to say: “It’s a really strong class. There are 62 honor graduates that have a 3.75 GPA or higher. That’s the most we’ve ever had,” Ann Small, school guidance counselor, said.

Small said she is happy to be “graduating” with the class of 2009. She is retiring after 23 years as a high-school counselor.

What the principal had to say: “This is my first graduating class. It’s a special group to me,” said Richie Weaver, who became the principal of Rockingham County High School this school year.

Students’ perspectives: “I’m just glad to be graduated. It’s awesome,” said Ashley Belcher. She plans to take classes in cosmetology at Rockingham Community College.

“It feels good,” Laquinta Holloway said. She plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, where she will study biology/ pre-med.

A parent’s perspective: “I’m thrilled. I had three. He’s the last one to graduate,” said Jaydene Mitchell, mother of Bryan Mitchell. She said her son was recently drafted by the New York Yankees.

A teacher’s perspective: “They’ll do well,” said Patsy Snyder, health and physical education teacher. “A lot of them have had a lot of struggles, but they’ve come through. This class is united around each other.”