Aiken County’s Wagener-Salley High School held a commencement ceremony at University of South Carolina Aiken’s Convocation Center on Thursday evening, May 30, to congratulate this year’s graduates.
Wagener-Salley High School faculty and staff said goodbye to 43 seniors, 11 of whom were graduating with honors, as each student happily accepted their diploma.
After Senior Class President Tessa Shackleford welcomed family and friends to the ceremony, salutatorian Tamiyah Washington said she believes she and her fellow graduates have been equipped with resilience and knowledge that will help them each go far in life.
“As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, we are filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The world beyond high school is a bag of opportunities, but it also presents challenges,” she said. “However, I have no doubt that we are prepared to face whatever comes our way.”
Following Washington’s speech, valedictorian Brandon Pontoon thanked several community and family members for supporting his journey – especially his mom.
“Mom, you have always been my rock, through night and day, thick and thin. You have always been there for me to offer your love and care whenever it was needed,” he said.
Ending his speech, Pontoon thanked Wagener-Salley High School coaches and teachers for helping each student succeed in their trials, prior to District 1 board member Deborah Tyler offering her congratulations.
As every graduate will find themselves on a different life path, Tyler said she hopes each of them soars like an eagle in the pursuit of their dreams.
“Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined,” she said.
Straying from the traditional graduation speech, Superintendent King Laurence said he wanted to instead read Kobi Yamada’s “What Do You Do With A Chance?” to remind graduates to take risks and never give up – because “when one holds out, they miss out.”
“‘So what do you do with a chance? You take it, because it just might be the start of something great,’” he said. “Wagener-Salley High Class of 2024 – take those chances … you don’t have to be brave all the time. You just have to be brave at the right time.”
Thanks to the efforts of several educators over the years and loving parents, principal Rasheem Neloms said graduates were now ready to go forth and make their community better – wherever and however they may choose.
“Class of 2024, you have persevered through obstacles to make it to this point of your lives,” he said. “… I believe that the resilience that this class has shown for the past four years illustrates that they have what it takes to thrive beyond here.”
Following the handing out of diplomas and the turning of the tassels, the ceremony ended with Wagener-Salley’s Eagle Voices choir singing the school’s alma mater, prior to graduates excitedly filing out of the convocation center.
Taking celebratory photos outside with family and friends, graduate Sha’nia Jackson said she would deeply miss seeing her friends and the teachers of Wagener-Salley High.
“It feels like all my hardwork has finally paid off,” she said. “… I love my fellow graduates forever.”
