Eastern Hancock’s Ben Bertsch waits for commencement ceremonies to begin. Sunday, June 4, 2023.
CHARLOTTESVILLE — It was a sea of royal blue, mixed with a few happy tears, flowing through the Eastern Hancock High School gymnasium Sunday afternoon.
The senior class of 2023 graduated to the thrill and excitement of everyone on hand.
The EHHS Class of 2023 is comprised of 93 seniors in all. Kinley Broadwater was the class Valedictorian and Mia Griesmeyer was the class Salutatorian.
During her speech, Broadwater noted the class was finally at a point they’d been looking forward to for the past 13 years. She then implored her fellow classmates to cherish every minute of their lives and to enjoy the now.
“Next thing you know it’s one more minute to laugh with friends,” Broadwater said. “We spend too much time wanting things to end that we never appreciate it, so stop and enjoy what is happening right now and look around, our friends and families are here, so enjoy this moment.”
Griesmeyer told the class she wasn’t too thrilled about having to speak at the graduation ceremony, but decided she needed to put something together unique, like their class, which spent several years dealing with COVID.
“It wasn’t until our junior year where things started to feel more normal,” she said. “Senior year we tried to fit in everything we missed.”
She then encouraged the class to remember their small victories and small moments with classmates.
“Hold those memories close,” Griesmeyer said. “This is the end of the chapter, but not the end of the book… We’re about to enter the most thrilling and terrifying period of our lives, so let’s turn the page.”
Principal Adam Barton thanked families, friends, staff and the EH school board for being on hand to celebrate the momentous day for the students who said “so long.”
“The class of 2023 embodies all the goals we hope our students will achieve when they leave Eastern Hancock,” Barton said. “Each student has found their own path and own timeline and we’re happy to have participated in their journey.”
Barton noted some 77% of the EH graduates leave high school with some form of college credit or certification.
Jenny McDaniel, a 1992 graduate of EHHS and a 24-year teacher for the district, was the faculty speaker and told the class that life is a math equation. She encouraged the students in the Class of 2023 who she said learned how to take negatives and turn them into positives.
“In spite of the obstacles you faced, you turned them into accomplishments,” McDaniel said, referring to how well the students navigated the pandemic.
She also reminded the students to try and not measure up to others but to be confident of who they are and to go out and enjoy their lives.
“Keep in mind there will be failures, but failures help us grow too,” she said. “Don’t let those failures keep you from following your dreams… Life has a way of moving on so keep moving forward in a positive direction no matter what you do.”
Superintendent George Philhower wrapped up the ceremony when he declared the Class of 2023 official graduates to the tune of cheers and applause.
