A total of 177 Class of 2017 graduates received their diplomas Friday night in a ceremony on the DCHS football field.

The White Rose Awards this year went to Kayley Caplinger and Eli Cross, and Luke Green took the Citizenship Award. The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the class for strong academic performance and exemplary moral character. The Citizenship Award is presented to a student who exemplifies strong academic performance and contribution to DCHS and the community.

Valedictorian Rachel Fuson called on her fellow graduates to have pride in whatever they do.

Fuson quoted Inky Johnson, a motivational speaker who once played football for the University of Tennessee, saying, “People quit because they don’t have pride in what they do. People stop because they’re selfish and it’s just about them. Whatever you start, you make sure you finish. And the problem with the world today is people get involved with things and if they don’t like a certain person, they don’t like the process, if it’s not what they thought it was, they quit. The process is more important than the product. It’s about can you take pride in what you do as an individual and every night, can you look in mirror knowing that you gave everything you had to it. We have to get to the point where we’re willing to impose our will on certain things. At a certain point in life, it can’t just be about you, and the moment that we understand that every day we wake up is a blessing and that life is a gift, and that if you were to check out today, how would you want to be remembered? It’s bigger than you.”

Class President Madison Butler urged the class to follow their dreams.

“Graduates, before you leave tonight, I urge you to take just five minutes to say goodbye to this place, because today is the day you leave behind twelve years of comfort to step out into the world and figure out what’s next. Figure out who YOU are, Figure out YOUR plan. Follow YOUR dreams. My favorite quote says, ‘Ignore what everyone else is doing and achieving - your life is about breaking your own limits and outgrowing yourself. You are not in competition with anyone else.’ Go out into the world and find new adventure. When one ends, move on to another. And remember, it’s okay to give yourself just five more minutes. But then, move on to greater things,” she said.