‘We are diverse and we are strong’

The 119 students graduating from Danville High School looked forward to the future on Thursday night as they all walked across the stage to take their diplomas.

“I look forward to no longer calling you students, but instead refer to you as boss, teacher, mayor, nurse, neighbor, colleague and friend,” said Superintendent Keith Look, before he introduced the class speakers, Abigail Anderson, McCallum Morley and Celeste Fieberg.

Anderson, senior class president, reminded her classmates of their past successes while at the school, mentioning some of the students by name, in a humorous speech. She thanked the teachers who had been hard on them, and those they could now call friends. She reminded her classmates of the little moments they had together.

“Just because these moments aren’t inspiring or earth-shattering doesn’t mean they aren’t important. They have brought all of us closer together and I couldn’t be more thankful for sharing the past 10 years with you all,” Anderson said. “We will always be able to say our roots are here.”

She was followed by McCallum Morley, student council president, who started his speech by taking a selfie with the class of 2017. He focused on being thankful to everyone from the cafeteria workers and janitors, to the teachers and parents, to his classmates.

“It’s the people in our lives who have been part of our high school journey who have made it so incredible,” Morley said.

He also thanked those who spoke at the students’ baccalaureate service the week before and the impact they had on the students.

Morley told students to carry the “spirit of Danville” with them wherever they went.

The student speeches were rounded out by Celeste Fieberg, who encouraged her classmates to find their place in the world.

“It’s so exciting for me to imagine where we will all be in a few years.”

She named some of the locations students will be going, from entering the workforce to leaving the country to further their education.

“Whatever we become — doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, engineers, artists, actors, pharmacists — we can all work together to make this world a better place. This world needs all of us,” Fieberg said, naming some of the students and things that make them special.

“It needs every one of us because our different strengths make the world go ‘round. Class of 2017, we are diverse and we are strong.”

Board Chair Paige Matthews challenged the students before conferring their diplomas with Look.

“As you move forward, take chances, and show your creativity,” she said.

Danville High School graduated 119 students on Thursday:

Abigail Grace Anderson, Alden James Cleveland Baird, Matthew Demetrio Ballard, Jada Lee Ann Barnes, Brian Philip Baxa, Lyndsey Tess Bell, Christina Bennett, James Seth Bishop, Breana Latrice Bostic, Alexis Deasia Monet Branscum, Briona Rainé Burnett, Chazz A Bush, Briante Sharnise Caldwell, Kami Jo Chappell, Caitlin Faye Chumbley, Trevor Coulter, Ashaley Ann Cooley, William Critchfield, Zachary Clay Dampier, Allyson Davis,

Cheyanna Dalia-Mae Del Angel, Darbi Madison Dinsmore, Barbara Ariel Dishon, Collin Ray Downey, Daniel Dale Eary, Tavvi Enderlin, Kathryn Lidia Erwin, Celeste Rose Fieberg, Shelby Ann Fields, Dawson Lee Forth, Alyssa Kathleen Glackin, Sarah Kathryn Goosey, Taylor Oshea Graves, William Grevin, Megan Elizabeth Gray, Joshua Hamilton, Isaiah Bryce Hill, Konnor Christopher Hill, Steven Connor Hopkins, William Conley Horn,

Mackenzie Gail Howe, Roberto Huerta-Gamez, Ruth Adele Hughes, Karly Ann Hume, Nisa Sade Ingram, Ellise Lynn Jaggers, Christopher Alan Jones, Demetrius Mekhi Jones, Kayla Marie Kenyon, Mackenzie Rae Kuchenbrod, Jordan Chance Kunkel, Jaylien D Leavell-Johnson, Desmin Shauntia Logan, Charles Alan Lynch, Mekenzie Jade Lynn, Meshara Rose Maggard, Havanna Jewell Martin, Sierra Adrianna Matherly, Daniel John McAllister, Aubrynn Alexis McNeely,

McCallum Joseph York Morley, Emery Brooke Mullins, Hailey Grace Myles, Nicholas Alexander Patton, Race Gannon Pellant, Logan Ray Phillips, Haley Kaye Pittman, Zachary Taylor Preston, Olivia Monet Prewitt, Johnathan Wayne Reed, Kirsten Paige Ribbing, Alexander Cole Roberts, Jean Claudio Rodriguez, Dalton Blayne Ruth, Mackenzie Paige Sandidge, Hollie Jean Mackenzie Saylor, Mason Freeman Shroeder, Matt Alexander Shroeder,  Isaiah Scott, Logan Zachary Scott,

Grace Binford Sheene, Taylor Cheyenne Simpson, Matthew Scott Sims, Jeremiah Oliver Singleton, Breonna DeChennel Slaughter, Zachariah Glenn Sparks, Katelyn Mackenzie Stamm, Harrison Blade Stamper, Ellison Wade Stanfield, Imani Jazzmarique Stateman, Isaiah Sean Stogdill, Nia Iyana Stokes, Dora Idellar Swann, Alona Daiere Taylor, Amber Lynne Thomas, Brittany Lynn Thomas, Jasmine Nicole Thomas, Brooklyn Marie Thompson, Dmaya Nshea Trumbo, Brianna Nicole Tucker,

Jessica Renea Turpin, Savannah Leigh Vanover, Samuel Alexander Venables, Cole Harrison Verhoven, Alyvia Jayne Walker, Morrisa Kennedy Sue Walker, Zenoviah Marie Walker, Samantha Lynn Wall, Lauren Meshelle Wallace, Johnathan Kevon Warren, Christian Michael Wastell, Jonah Myles Welch, Matthew Ryan Weston-Suttles, Jeremiah Lee Wheat, Ashley Nichole Whittington, Alayna Grace Wood, Lawsyn Dean Wood, Damyan Michael Young, Sabian Wade Zaman.