Smiles were prominent among the 168 Fannin County High School Class of 2021 graduates during a traditional graduation ceremony Friday, May 21.
Among a crowd of family, friends and peers, the words of hope and encouragement as well as reminiscence filled the air.
“High school teaches you more than just what you learn in the classroom,” Valedictorian Cooper Boyle said. “High school teaches you how to persevere and adapt to ever-changing situations. We have learned this in the last year more than ever. As last summer came to a close, COVID was near its peak, and things looked grim, we didn’t even know if we were going to come back to school or not. However, the board (Board of Education) allowed us to come back in a safe manner, and we never looked back.
“We saw perseverance early in the year in the form of the football team. They advanced to the Elite 8 of the state playoffs. We all remember being right there in the student section, cheering them on, watching Tommy (Ledford) dance on the side after a touchdown and watching Luke (Holloway) throw dimes to Cohutta (Hyde).”
Boyle continued with a reference to the Lady Rebels basketball team being state runners up as well as the wrestling team’s state championship victory, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams reaching state playoffs, the girls’ golf team advancing to state, and Lainey Panter’s individual golfing state championship finish.
Thanking the entire faculty and staff for the class’s success, Boyle said, “Our administration has gone through many changes throughout the last four years; however, Dr. (Scott) Ramsey’s the only administrator who has actually held that title for all four years, so we thank you for that.”
A moment was taken during Boyle’s speech to remember the classmates who had died, particularly Keaton Long, who passed in 2016.
“We have all made memories that we will cherish forever, friendships that we will never forget, and we’ve gained knowledge that will help us become successful, young adults,” Salutatorian Andrew Harris said. “That’s not to say that there haven’t been hardships that have come with this journey. COVID-19 has affected our class in ways that many people will never understand.
“We weren’t able to enjoy our junior and senior years of high school like students in the past. Our sports seasons were altered, cut short, and we were even forced to forfeit games because of the coronavirus. Although this disease affected our athletics, we continued to strive for success.”
Harris went on to reference the many successful sports seasons.
“All of this was possible because many of the seniors sitting here today,” he said.
Furthermore, Harris explained how the school experience was altered as a result of COVID-19 precautions and recommendations.
Harris’s address included an acknowledgment of the life of 2020 graduate Sydnie Jones, who died in a car crash early this year.