It was a packed house as friends, family, faculty, and students gathered at VanHooser Stadium last Friday evening for the 2021 DeKalb County High School Graduation ceremony. It would be a night of triumph for many of the students, having completed their school years during one of the most turbulent times in recent memory, but also a time of sadness as the class remembered one of their own that was taken too soon.
The ceremony began with a processional by the DeKalb County High School Band, followed by the invocation by FCA member Jasper Kleparek. The DCHS choir, accompanied by Caleb Wood and Joshua Gulley, then performed, singing “You’ve Got a Friend,” then “I Lived.”
A photo of Cassie Maxwell was placed in the seat where she would have been seated during the event. Maxwell was killed in a traffic accident in Liberty just six weeks before she would have graduated. Valedictorian and Class President Carly Vance also called for a moment of silence to honor Maxwell as she took the podium to address the crowd. “To those who loved Cassie Maxwell, I am so sorry,” Vance said. “You have my whole heart out to you right now.” Later, as diplomas were being handed out, balloons were released as Cassie’s name was called.
During her address, Valedictorian Vance also spoke of a Spanish explorer who arrived in a foreign land told his crew that they were going to explore the mountains, and past the horizon. But, the explorer found his men afraid to leave the comfort of their ships and unwilling to explore the unknown. So, he ordered his men off the ships and commanded his generals to set fire to the vessels, telling his men “We will not turn back. We will not retreat. We will go forth and see what this land has in store for us.”
Vance told her classmates to “burn their ships,” to let go of the mistakes, pain, worry and fear they had experienced in the past, and to move forward. “The only thing we have control over is right now,” Vance said. “Be brave enough to explore the next mountain that is approaching your life, to explore the new horizon, the rising sun whose golden rays are approaching us quickly. Dusk is setting on the past, and a new dawn lies before you to be discovered.”
After Vance spoke, honors and distinctions were announced by Lori Myrick, then top rank and service students were recognized by Shelly Painter.
Then, Principal Randy Jennings took the podium and spoke about not only his time as principal of DCHS, but also as his time as principal of DeKalb Middle School. “For most of you guys we’ve spent the last seven years together. I saw you come into the middle school as little sixth graders, and now you’re graduating as young men and young women. I can only say that I am privileged to have been part of your lives for the last seven years.”
“Your senior year has been very unique,” Jenning continued. “You’ve been through a lot of different things … remote learning, and all that went with that. You have persevered through all the difficult times, you have reach tonight.”
Jennings also addressed the loss of Maxwell during the ceremony. “It is with great sadness that we celebrate tonight, and we do so without one of our classmates. Cassie was an excellent student and an even better person and she will be missed,” Jennings said.
Jennings then recognized the 2021 Valedictorian Carly Vance and Salutatorian Hannah Willingham, before announcing this year’s Citizen Award. The Citizenship Award is given to a student in the senior class who exemplifies strong academic performance and a contribution to the school and community. This year’s Citizenship Award was presented to Levi Driver.
Afterward this year’s White Rose Awards were presented. The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the senior class with strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community and exemplary moral character. This year’s White Rose Awards were presented to Carly Vance and Jasper Kleparek.
DeKalb County Director of Schools Patrick Cripps then addressed the crowd and recognized Principal Jennings and Assistant Principal David Gash. Jennings is leaving DCHS but will further his education career elsewhere, while Gash is retiring from the school system. “I want to thank them for their leadership and dedication to our community. I got to work with these guys for two decades. They are more than co-workers, they are my friends, and they will be sorely missed,” Director Cripps said.
The 147 DCHS graduates then formed a line at the stage and one by one filed past the podium to receive their diplomas. Members of the DCHS Class of 2021:
Briona Alysse Agee, Presley Suzanne Agee, Axel Ronaldo Aldino Arvizu, Trevonte Jaquan Alexander, Alejandra Sofia Amaya, Nikolas Joe Anderson, Bailey Renee Ashford, Alexis Grace Atnip, Peyton Michael Atnip, Savannah Atnip, Meredith Faith Averitte, Katie Elizabeth Bain, Saxon DeWayne Bain, Brian A. Balderas, Logan Kade Barnes, Talon Kendall Billings, Scottie Layne Blackwell, Hailey Ray Bogle, Jordan Dione Boniol, Kaileigh Marie Brandon, Johnathon Ray Brock, Spencer Lee Buchanan, Keith Buck, Andrew William Burklow, Courtney Paige Byford, Mont’e James Caldwell, Levi Autry Cantrell, Megan Emilee Cantrell, Joshua Garrett Claiborne, Morgan Shayanne Clark, Kobbe Braden Clary, Brandon Patrick Cline, Joshua Kyle Cook, Craig Evan Cooper, James Muralla Copeland, Nicholas Tyler Cothern, Christopher Matthew Cowan, Kyndal Nicole Cox, Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps, Jordan Shane Crook, Alexis Catherine Cudney, Aidan Edward Curtis, Nathaniel James Dace, Lydia Grace Davenport, Leah Brooke Davis, Paxton Chaise Dawson, Levi Katon Driver, Sadie Maren Driver, Lynsey Nicole Ellis, Haley Jade Ervin, Katie Lynn Ervin, Charles Joseph Ford, Skylar McKinlee Fuson, Audrey Nichole Gillenwater, Alysah Jean Glass, Grace Elizabeth Griffin, Dasia Rayne Gurley, Wesley Hayden Hallum, Vanessa Nicole Harn, Mallori Ashton Hart, Garrett Bridges Hayes, Autumn Brook Hendrixson, Haley Jane Hendrixson, Phillip Holden Hendrix, Sydnee Shea Hendrixson, Keagan Mikal Hensel, Daisy Elizabeth Hernandes Morales, Savannah Rhae Jackson, Luke Aubrey Jenkins, Emma Brooke Jennings, Jacob Lee Johnson, Jaden Layne Johnson, Evan Christopher Jones, Dylan Richard Judkins, Ariana Taylor Keith, Jasper David Kleparek, Cayden Elijah Kyle, Cyerra Marie Ladet, Tyzaun Orion Ladet, Allie Elizabeth Krist Lasser, Abigal May Lawson, Peyton Tyler Leaf, Jonathan Linebarger, Victor Coleman Luna, Harley James Mace, Joseph Michael Martin, Lily Grace Martin, Maritza Cecilia Martinez, Dalton Allen Mathias, Brandon Imanol Matias, Cassie Len Maxwell (deceased), Deanna Rachelle Maxwell, Ashlin Jane Maynard, Brandon Tyler McCoy, Jacklyne Brook McLaughlin, Lacey Jade McMillen, Joshua Isaiah Moon, Buddy Lee Murphy, Ava Isabelle Nokes, Desmond Bryant Jude Roy Nokes, Ty C. Osborn, Josef Micah Osment, Riley Michelle Overstreet, Alyssa Jade Owen, Jimmy Joe Pack, Noah Jacob Patterson, Candace Sky Pearson-Meyers, Madison Joan Peregoy, Chloe Grace Pigate, Caven Dwain Ponder, Ashley Samary Portillo, Megan Christine Price, William Samuel Pursell, Jacklyn Deloris Reed, Jason Allen Richards, Dakota James Rodgers, Janelle Alani Rodriguez, Angel Lynn Rutland, Joshua Blake Sanders, Memphis Gage Schunke, Michael Logan Sevier, Edith Citlalic Silva Godinez, Alisha Renea Skinner, Carlos Havier Solano, Kiley Faith Staley, Bryson Lee Stewart, Madison Noelle Stiffler, Jade Diane Stone, Emily Renee Swoape, Holly Nicole Tayes, Caleb Allen Taylor, Noah Xavier Terry, Calvin James Tramel, Ashton Caroll Truelove, Linh Nhat Troung, Avery Lupe Nichole Valdez, Carly Frances Vance, Hannah Lynn Vandyne, Parker Jeremiah Vantrease, Brenden Thomas Wagner, Hannah Xinyun Willingham, Mykenzie Danielle Wilson, Jacob Lee Winchester, Keri Dawn Winchester, Caleb Lane Wood, Cody Austin Woodham, Cole Grayson Wright, and Skylor Shae Young.
