As the DeKalb County High School Band played Pomp and Circumstance, 165 members of the Class of 2022 marched to their seats during this year’s graduation ceremony at VanHooser Field last Friday evening. Students were joined by friends, family, and faculty, who cheered on the students as they were recognized.
This year’s White Rose Award recipients were Isaac Knowles and Faith Betancourt, while the Citizenship Award was presented to Isaiah Harrington. The White Rose is awarded to a student from the senior class with strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community and exemplary moral character. The Citizenship Award is presented to a student who exemplifies strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community.
This year’s Valedictorian, Isabella France, and Salutatorian, Jacey Hatfield, were also recognized during the ceremony.
The invocation was presented by FCA member Isaiah Harrington, followed by a performance by the DCHS Chorus and music theater class. Class President Ian Paladino then addressed the student body and crowd.
“Remember who you are and what you represent,” Paladino said. “That’s what my mom would tell me and my siblings every day before school, and that is what her mother used to tell her when she was a kid too. It became our family motto, especially on my mom’s side of the family. It kind of became an empty phrase of sorts, but when I think about it, I have to think about, ‘Who am I and what do I represent?’”
I am Ian Paladino. I am a brother, son, friend, student, and child of God. I represent myself, my family, the DeKalb County class of 2022 as president, and as a follower of Christ I represent God and the Christian faith. When people see me and my actions do I represent these things and myself the way I would want to?” said Paladino.
Valedictorian Isabella France then addressed the crowd.
“Our class has overcome so many obstacles throughout our four years. When trying to figure out what I should say to the class of 2022, I prayed about the words that would describe our class the best. The word I came to was ‘Hope.’”
“The word ‘Hope’ means longing for something to happen with anticipation. As freshmen we walked into DeKalb County High School with hope that we would have the best four years of our lives. Little did we know as the scared little freshmen we were that we would only get two years of being able to learn inside the school building.”
“Our class had to overcome a huge obstacle and I am so proud to say that we all did it. We had to figure out how to learn to transition from in school learning to remote learning in a matter of days. We also had to overcome the obstacle of not knowing what was to come. We had hope that our senior year could be as normal as possible.”
“Thanks to the DCHS administration and DeKalb County School Board we have been able to get back to the normality of being in school without transitioning every few weeks. I would like to thank a couple of people that I have noticed have worked very hard to make this happen for us. Mr. (Patrick Cripps, Mr. (Bruce) Curtis, Mr. (Thomas) Cagle, and Mrs.(Jenny) Norris, you have all worked diligently to ensure that our senior year was not only consistent with in school learning, but also memorable. On behalf of the class of 2022 we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your hard work and dedication,” said France.
“To my family and friends, you have all been there through the victories and the tears and I cannot put into words how much I appreciate your strength, love, and support”.
“To the class of 2022, Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” We’ve held tightly to those dreams we’ve had since we were in kindergarten when we could only imagine what this day would look like or what would come next.
“Some of us have been given advice about life after high school. We’ve listened to other’s experiences and heard great stories. We’ve made mental notes and committed some advice to memory. But I believe, until we start this next journey, it is hard to understand it all,” France continued.
“Deuteronomy 31:6 says, ‘Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared of your enemies, because the Lord is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you.’ Through our journeys, we will experience an abundance of emotions: excitement, uncertainty, disappointment, triumph, or even loss. But never lose hope. And know that we, as the next generation of leaders, will step into the challenge at hand, adjust through change, be resilient during adversity, show grace when others fail us, and never stop pushing to be the best versions of ourselves.”
“Thank you, Class of 2022, for all the wonderful memories. I will take a piece of you with me, and I will continue to hope for the brightest future for you all,” said France.
FCA member Haidyn Hale delivered the benediction to close out the commencement.
Honors, distinctions, top rank, and service students were then recognized during the ceremony, before Principal Bruce Curtis addressed the class, naming the White Rose awards and Citizenship award.
“Seniors, it has been a privilege to be part of your life for this school year. The past four years you have withstood, endured, and overcome more than any other graduating class. It was my hope this school year to bring normalcy back to the lives of our DCHS students. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this school year as much as I. Parents, grandparents, and guardians of the senior class, you have raised some of the best young men and young ladies that I have ever had the privilege of working with. They are kind, fun loving, and respectful. You should be extremely proud of yourselves,” said Principal Curtis.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps added his congratulations to the Class of 2022. “Congratulations Class. We wish you nothing but the best as you go forward in your futures and chase your dreams. Always remember those roads that lead out of DeKalb County always have a return trip home where your family and friends will always be,” said Director Cripps.
Graduates were then recognized one by one as they received their diplomas. The class was called as follows:
Jazmin Mekole Abston, Kennedy Grace Agee, Kevin Alexander Aguirre, Hannah Elizabeth Allen, Brookelynn Grace Anderson, Sophia Eileen Angeletti, Sean Brayden Antoniak, Dawson Luke Bandy, Bentley Paige Barber, Kenya Marie Batey, Sebastian Bazaldua Rivera, Faith Jewely Betancourt, Jasmine Marie Bilbrey, Lanis Twain Bratcher, Mackenzie Paige Brindley, William Blain Butterbaugh, Joanie Michaela Campbell, Jenna Lea Cantrell, Patrick Ian Cantrell, Zackary Ian Cantrell, Selena Marrie Cardin, Ethan Cole Carter, Caden Allen Clark, Marissa Brooke Clark, Morgan Remmington Clifton, Cordell Hayden Collier, Katherine Grace Colwell, Alexandra Bethany Cook, Kaley Reanne Cook, Makayla Nicole Cook, Lynsie Paige Cooper, Diego Scott Coronado, Breanna Gabrelle Cothern, Conner Lee Crabtree, Nathaniel Preston Crook, Summer Marie Crook, Silas Mark Cross, William Allen Curtis, Evelyn Marie Day, Carter Gregory Dias, Erykah Sharronne Duverne, Allison Danielle Eastes, Jeremiah D. Elswick, Dexton Bradley Emberton, Logan Wyatt Entrekin, Orlando Jose Escobedo, Ricardo Alfonso Escobedo, Savana Elizabeth Faulton, Maggie Fay Felton, Michael Daniel Fender, Kadee Beth Ferrell, Kaitlin Melia Ferrell, Hannah Erin Finan, Kavaughn Kamanao John Fisk, Isabella Grace France, Melasia Lavone Gilles, Devin Mackenzie Green, Brady Houston Hale, Charles Carter Hale, Chloe Isabella Hale, Haidyn Renee Hale, Jackson Dakota Hale, Lucas Ryan Hale, Hannah Dawn Hall, Zoe Grace Hardrick, Isaiah Lee Harrington, Caitlyn Rene Harwell, Jacey Anne Hatfield, Grayson Scott Hendrix, Tori Danielle Hensley, Yahir Gabriel Herevia Perales, Jonathan Hernandez, Kelsy Isabell Hernandez, Kyleigh Breanne Hill, Christina Helen Howard, Kaia Leigh Howard, Lindsey Kristen Hutchins, Marley Elizabeth Jones, David Bryson Judkins, Matthew Daniel Keaton, Kolter Garrett Kilgore, Michael Scott King, Isaac Dwight Knowles, Madison Nicole Lack, Joshua Peyton Lackey, Rebecca Gwen Lawrence, Jonathan Daniel Lawson, Shanti Liu, Selena Isela Lomas Torres, Courtney Elizabeth London, Robert Allan Luna, Ethan Chase Marshall, Braden Wayne Martin, Elian Josue Martinez, Javontae Alexander Martin, Kevin Alexis Martinez-Soto, Richard David Martinez, Aaron Ancil Meadows, Haylee Cassandra Merriman, Alexandria Cheyenne Morris, Hannah Grace Mullican, Kaylee M. Mullican, Brenda Lucia Muniz Guzman, Haley Michele Musick, Malayna Nichole Nokes, Logan Ryan O’Conner, Reanna Catherine O’Connell, Sergio Andres Ortega, Cody Ashton Pack, McKenzie Elizabeth Pack, Ian Michael Paladino, Riley Austin Palmer, Tylan Cole Panker, Tyler Lynn Parsley, Ariel Brooke Patterson, Kennedy Grace Polk, Harrison Puckett Pryor, Addison Jean Puckett, Diana Evelyn Ramirez, Madelyn Rose Ray, Madison Brooke Ray, Tehana Leigh Richey, Justin Abel Rico, Martha Soledad Rico Serna, Keirstine Brooke Robinson, Kessie Ella Robinson, Victoria Nicole Rodano, Addison Gray Roller, Robert Matthew Rowe, Elizabeth Annagale Seber, Ethan Jamison Sexton, Amarious Javod Shaw, Nancy Michelle Silva, Natalie Morgan Snipes, Brandon Tyler Sobotka, Avery Alan South, William Skyler Southard, Kiley Izabella Speaks, Mackenzie Leigh Sprague, Payton Leve Summers, Cheyenne Dorakay Sutton, Brandon Lynn Sykes, Olivia Hope Taylor, Kaydence Ranee Thompson, Rainey Danielle Tiner, Alexander Torres Soto, Jamison Ross Trapp, Steve Dylan Trapp, Brayden Deshaun Tubbs, Alexus Grace Turner, Jesus Alfonso Vega Nunez, Hagen Wayne Waggoner, Trad Edward Sparkman Wann, Savanna Rene Warren, Ellie Elizabeth Webb, Sadie Rian West, Aidan Garrett Whitman, Allison Joy Wilbur, Erin Taylor Williams, Jathan Roth Willoughby, Lydia Caroline Willoughby, Bailey Marie Winfree, Thomas Parker Winfree, Jordan Michael Young, and Angel Gabriel Zapien.
