Fleming High School graduated 10 seniors Sunday in a ceremony filled with laughter, optimism and even a few tears.
The graduates entered the school gym individually between posts decorated with the class colors, black and purple.
Class President Stanley Tryboski welcomed the families and friends of the graduates, after which the school’s counselor Randy Stahley recounted the number of college and trade school scholarships the students had earned to further their educations. Notable among them was Nathan Brekel’s $10,000 National FFA scholarship.
Fleming High School Class of 2021 listens as Counselor Randy Stahley reels off the list of scholarships the graduates have earned.
After the traditional class slide show, family and friends were recognized and thanked to the strains of the class song, “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. The song’s closing lyrics seemed most appropriate: “Live your life with arms wide open / Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten …”
FHS Principal Kortney Firme introduced Salutatorian Kendyl Kirkwood. Kirkwood noted that most of the graduates had grown up together, and had been together since Kindergarten. She noted some of the highlights of the group’s years together, eliciting laughter at the antics of some of her classmates.
Firme then introduced Valedictorian Cole Sigmon, who picked up where Kirwood left off, and talked about his and his classmates’ plans for the future. If all goes according to plan, the class will produce at least one physician, a computer engineer, a diesel technician, and a number of other technicians and professionals.
Firme then presented the class to the Frenchman School District Board of Education, members of which helped to confer diplomas. In an especially touching moment School Board President Randy Kirkwood handed his daughter Kendyl her diploma, then embraced her in a long, joyful hug.
The graduates ended the ceremony by moving their mortarboard tassels from the right to the left, then flinging the mortarboards into the air. They then processed out of the gymnasium in pairs to Simple Plan’s “I’m Just a Kid.” and gathered outside to greet family and friends.
Members of the Fleming High School Class of 2021 and their individual mottos are as follows:
Jordan Rose Alvarez, “When life shuts a door, open it back up. That’s how doors work.” (Anonymous)
Nathan Joseph Brekel, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” (Mae West)
Kade Alexander Comstock, “There is no ‘I’ in team, but there is in win.” (Michael Jordan)
Chris Dillon Goss, “You don’t get what you wish for. You get what you work for.” (Granger Smith)
Auston TJ Michael Hoskins, “Sleeves up, puttin’ work in, tryna be better.” (NF)
Kendyl Jo Kirkwood, “No matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life goes on and it will be better tomorrow.” (Maya Angelou)
Bailey Sue McAnally, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” (Dr. Seuss)
Ana Christina Resendez, “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes but don’t quit.” (Conrad Hilton.}
Cole Michael Sigmon, “You’ll be amazed at how capable people think you are if they don’t know you. Don’t waste that advantage.” (Baxter Black)
Stanley Christian Owen Tryboski, “The only time I’m concerned with is having a good one, ya’ know.” (J-Roc)
