Around 208 Shady Spring High School students were handed diplomas amid air horns and cheers Friday evening at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
Forty-six students graduated with honors, and at the top of their class were valedictorian Lukas Meadows, salutatorian Christian Martine and honorarian Amna Khan.
Meadows told students to be prepared for the future and not be afraid to use the power to shape one’s destiny.
“If we have determination, nothing is beyond our grasp,” he said. “It is now time to take our inspiration and run with it. Everyone has the potential to change the country and the world.”
Martine told his fellow graduates to be proud of their accomplishments but to also be proud of their heritage.
“When we enter the workforce or college or whatever life brings you, we should never have people tell us that we are less intelligent,” he said. “We are from a great state and we are proud to be Mountaineers.”
Kahn reminisced about her time in the jazz band and told students to not be afraid to realize their true potential.
“Shady Spring High School brings me the most pride through its people,” she said. “Every single student here has the potential to be great.”
Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Hutchens accepted the class of 2010 and said she was happy to be there for this “special time.”
“This is such a special time because I can look at these wonderful graduates and see our future,” she said.
Graduate Lucas Hart says he is not sad at all about graduation and looks forward to starting his life in the coal mines.
“I’m relieved this is over and I’m glad to be out of school,” he said. “After this, I’m going straight to get my 80-hour mining class.”
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Shady Spring High School honor graduate Madison Bowles peers into the packed crowd at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center during Shady Spring's 2010 Commencement Friday. Christopher J. Jackson
Shady Spring seniors take next step
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