The Switzerland County High School Class of 2017 will go through commencement exercises this Saturday, June 3rd – a change from the traditional Sunday graduations of the past. 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 head ushers Abigail Dayadharum and Brittany Vinup 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 by Class Treasurer Alysa Parr; everyone will be welcomed to the ceremony by Class Co-Vice President Kelby Rogers. Class Secretary Melissa Furnish will then introduce honored guests in attendance, as well as this year’s class officers.
Those comments will be followed by the Baccalaureate address.
Summer Dickerson, Class Co-Vice President, will introduce this year’s Baccalaureate speaker – Mike Jones, Pastor of Patriot Baptist Church and also superintendent of schools.
A prayer of invocation will then follow, led by Class Co-President Brody Splain.
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.
Valedictorian Mackenzie Covington will provide this year’s graduation address on behalf of her classmates. She will be introduced by teacher Adam Pietrykowski.
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 by Co-President Splain, and then the graduates will participate in the time-honored tradition of the turning of the tassels, led by Covington, who is also the Class Co-President, and Splain.
The band will then play the Recessional as the new graduates file out of the gymnasium.
There are 105 members of this year’s graduating class.