Local graduates focus on the positive on graduation day

Scurry County’s three public school districts presented diplomas to 189 high school graduates last night. Friends and family members greeted the graduates at ceremonies and parades at Snyder, Ira and Hermleigh schools.
The seniors received their diplomas and then celebrated with small groups of friends and family for most of the night, but the top graduates of Snyder, Hermleigh and Ira high schools had a message of encouragement for their classmates.
Snyder High School’s Class of 2020 valedictorian Kendra Bynum encouraged her peers to look on the bright side of this school year and focus on all they have learned.
“To say the least, our senior year was not what we expected, but when is life truly what we expect it to be? We were thrown a few curveballs, but why don’t we look at this as an opportunity instead of a disappointment?” she asked.
Bynum reminded fellow students that not all knowledge comes from books or lectures, but with the relationships built with others, especially the teachers that played instrumental roles in their students’ lives.
“Many say that they feel sorry for our class, but looking on the bright side, no other class can say they were paraded around town to then walk across the stage on their home football field to say one last goodbye,” Bynum said. “We owe it to ourselves to take this situation and make it as memorable as possible.”
Meera Bhakta, Snyder’s salutatorian, called for a celebration of good memories rather than focusing on the bad.
“Snyder High School will forever be the holder of some of the best moments we have had together as the class of 2020,” she said. “From rooting on our classmates in our favorite sports to actually even being able to see each other every day at school will all be missed in the end, these will be the memories that we will cherish forever.”
Ira High School’s valedictorian Asher Fowlkes took a more humorous approach to the school year’s turn of events.
“Since we couldn’t have the traditional rose ceremony this year, we wanted to hand out popsicles and toilet paper. But Mr. Jones said it would not meet social distancing protocol,” he laughed. “I ordered a potato launcher, but unfortunately it was made in China and is stuck in customs due to restrictions put in place by President Trump.”
Fowlkes went on to thank his classmates and the Ira ISD staff for continuing to push themselves and each other to do their best.
Ira’s salutatorian Jessica Heiskell gave words of advice to the underclassmen — “I know you are all ready to be where I am, graduating and moving on, but don’t wish your lives away. I hope the class of 2020 has been a good role model for you and has taught you a few important lessons.”
Hermleigh High School’s valedictorian Stormi Cobb looked back on all the inside jokes that she and the 14 other Hermleigh graduates had together and expressed gratitude to her family, classmates, and school staff.
“Thank you to all of my family that has always been there to build me up. Thank you to all of the teachers that I have had for guiding me and pushing me to be better. Thank you to the school’s administration for making everything run smoothly. Thank you to my teammates for pushing me out of my comfort zone to get better. And lastly, thank you to my classmates for all the memories over the years, boosting my confidence when I needed it, and also bringing me back down to earth when I needed it, and sticking together,” she said.
Hermleigh’s salutatorian Jacklyn Clinkinbeard encouraged her classmates to look to their futures and ask themselves what they will do after high school.
“We’ve completed a basic education that will serve as the platform we use to launch ourselves into our futures. I ask you and myself, if you could do anything you wanted and knew you would never fail, what would you do?” she said. “Although challenges and failures are inevitable, I encourage you to live a life full of courage so that your dreams turn into reality.”