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Huntingdon Graduates 78 in Sunday Ceremony

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HUNTINGDON (May 12, 2019) — Huntingdon High School seniors added to the 78 to the rolls of the school’s alumni during the Sunday afternoon commencement exercises at the school’s gymnasium.
The students entered to the music of Pomp and Circumstance performed by the Huntingdon High School Band. A capacity audience looked on as each of the students took their assigned seats at the floor level of the gym.
It was a ceremony rich in tradition, which included the ceremonial passing of the torch for the seniors of 2019 to the seniors of 2020.
Morgan Cole, class president, welcomed her fellow graduates and attendees.
Ryleigh Bailey gave the Salutatorian Address and Joseph Richardson gave the Valedictorian Address.
Bailey said “Success does not begin overnight,, it is a product of long-term diligence and perservance and a lot of love and help along the way.”
She thanked the teachers and administrators for guiding the students and for helping them become the men and women they are today.
The graduates are asked what they want to be when they grow up and are expected to give a serious answer right out of high school. However, the majority of “us” do not know and will make many, many mistakes before we make the hard and fast decisions that shape our future, said Bailey.
As “we” leave high school today, get out of your comfort zone and make the mistakes necessary and learn from them, Bailey told her fellow classmates.

Richardson, addressing his classmates, said, “Well guys, we have made it. When we walk out of this gym today, we will officially be Huntingdon High School alumni...
It takes a village to raise a child. So on behalf of the senior class, I want to thank our coaches and teachers who have taguth us not only how to lead block and solve math problems, but have also taught us valuable lessons such as perserverance or being able to work in a group...”
He thanked his parents and the people of the Town of Huntingdon for supporting the students, whether it was band competitions or playoff football games three hours away.
“Now to the class of 2019, we are done with high school and I will forever be thankful for the memories we have together. It is time for us to take our own paths now, so I want to leave you with this. In life, we will face many obstacles and tough decisions. The choices you make at this time will define who you are, so will you push through and give it everything you have or will you back down and let life push you around? I wish you all the best of luck.”
Class President Cole told her fellow classmates “You can’t achieve anything entirely by yourself. There’s a support system that is a basic requirement of human existence. To be happy and successful on earth, you must have to have people that you can rely on.
“I want all of you to look around us, look in the stands, find your family, friends, and teachers. These are the people who’ve supported you, helped you, and loved you and they only want to best for you.
So, when you leave here tonight to begin the next chapter in your life and you somehow get lost along the way, come back home. Remember what it felt like to be here right now in this moment. Remember what it felt like to have your family and friends look down at you from the stands and how happy they were for you. This is where it all begins.
“I’ve learned a lot of things about myself as a student here at Huntingdon High, like how to work well with others, and how to work through tough times with help from the caring people around me. But this is it, our last time here as students. And when we walk out of those double doors we will go our separate ways, and I know that each and every person who will walk today, in his or her own way, worked hard for the last four years so that they could be sitting here waiting to receive their diplomas.”
Dr. Jonathan Kee announced special awards and the top ten students. Valedictory was Joseph Richardson, son of Windie and Joey Richardson, Ryleigh Bailey, daughter of Scotty Bailey and Andrea Batey, Emily Coleman, daughter of Greg and Denise Coleman, Dawson Gremmels, son of Dave and Adriane Gremmels, Maggie Guess, daughter of Chris and Beth Guess, Brayden Campbell, son of Amy and Kevin Campbell, Molly Sturgis, daughter of Amy and Joel Sturgis, Katie Lou Chase, daughter of Bob and Addie Lou Chase, Katilyn Williams, daughter of Jennifer and Wes Price, and Clayton Pinson, son of Chad and Edyee Pinson.
Each graduate filed one by one to the front as Pat Dillahunty, director of schools, announced his or her name and school board members Dr. Lee Carter and Brittany Foster presented the diploma. Once all diplomas were distributed, the gathering participated in the singing of the Alma Mater. The graduates moved their tassels from right to left, and then threw their mortarboards in the air in celebration.

Huntingdon, Graduation, 2019