The Switzerland County High School Class of 2016 will go through commencement exercises this Sunday, June 5th. Commencement will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be held in the high school gym.
The program will begin with high school Principal Gregg Goewert greeting those in attendance, and that will be followed by junior class marshals Nicholas Braun and Mackenzie Covington presenting the colors. The traditional processional of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ will be played by the Switzerland County High School band under the direction of Jonathan Grice; and the National Anthem will be sung by the senior members of the Switzerland County High School choir.
After the audience is led in the Pledge to the Flag; everyone will be welcomed to the ceremony; and honored guests in attendance will be recognized, as well as this year’s class officers.
Those comments will be followed by the Baccalaureate address.
This year’s Baccalaureate speaker is Patrick Lanman, Pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church near Fairview.
Following those remarks, retiring faculty members will be recognized.
Switzerland County High School Director of Guidance Marla Edwards will recognize those who have earned academic honors; and also those who have attained National Honor Society recognition at the Southeastern Career Center. She will also introduce the Top Ten members of the senior class.
Teacher Valerie Smith will introduce the members of the National Honor Society; and Principal Goewert and Guidance Director Edwards will introduce the class Valedictorian and the Class Salutatorian.
Breanna Braun will provide this year’s Valedictorian address, while Courtney Gullion, who also serves her class as President, will give the Salutatorian address.
Switzerland County School Superintendent Michael Jones will then certify the class as meeting the requirements for graduation; and he will present the class and confer the diplomas.
The commencement ceremony will close with a benediction, and then the graduates will participate in the time-honored tradition of the turning of the tassels.
The band will then play the Recessional as the new graduates file out of the gymnasium.
There are 112 members of this year’s graduating class.