By Ainsley Hall
HEDGESVILLE — Hedgesville High School celebrated the Class of 2024 on Wednesday night, as students dressed in dark blue walked across the stage and received their diplomas during their graduation ceremony.
The school’s 351 graduates were recognized for their accomplishments as they look forward to the future.
Senior Class President Emily Montgomery addressed her fellow graduates during the ceremony, reflecting on the students’ four years of high school together. They started high school wearing masks during a worldwide pandemic and overcame many challenges to get where they are today.
“Looking out into the crowd, I am not only reminded of each beautiful memory made with so many people but also, what Andy Bernard once said — ‘I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’ I am certain that these are the good old days we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives,” Montgomery said.
“As a class, we have grown through all stages of life together. Some of us are here with the kids we played with during recess 12 years ago or kids who welcomed us on our first days, and all these years later, we will move our tassel from one side to the other, side by side, adding one final moment to remember.”
After the Hedgesville High School Show Choir and Chamber Choir performed, Principal Ronald Lyons addressed the graduates. This year was his last graduation before retiring, and he shared that this group of students was just starting kindergarten when he became principal.
“This class is just loaded with talent,” Lyons said before the ceremony. “They’re so impressive and resilient because of the pandemic. They are very service-oriented, and it’s great to see them making a difference in the community.”
Lyons encouraged the graduates to continue being kind to others and just being nice people. He believes that they will have a great impact on the people around them and create a better future for everyone.
Senior Class Vice President Gilbeiry Marte-Diaz delivered the closing speech by giving her fellow students a voice and sharing what they had to say about graduation. They shared their gratitude for their teachers and for the opportunities they had to grow and impact the community.
“Wherever your path after high school leads you, stand tall, and if you fall, get yourself back up,” Marte-Diaz said. “Life will hold many challenges, but that’s the true beauty of it. Being an Eagle has taught us that no matter how hard we fall, we will stand stronger in the end. Thank you, parents, teachers and friends, for your support through these four years.”
After Marte-Diaz’s speech, the moment they’ve all been waiting for came. The graduates moved their tassels as friends and families cheered, marking the beginning of a new journey.