BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — Union County High School’s 2023 graduation ceremony was held May 19, sending 136 young men and women off to pursue the next chapter in their lives. These young people made their landmark walk across the stage under the eyes of a large crowd of parents, grandparents, friends and community members, all enjoying the cooperation of the weather, which was pleasant and breezy.
As the UCHS Band, under the direction of Kelly Dorsey, played the traditional processional theme, the soon-to-be graduates walked to the field and took their seats. The event opened with a prayer, offered by Senior Class Treasurer Jayda Leigh Hendrieth, followed by the Pledge to the Flag, led by Karly Ann Raulerson, Senior Class Secretary. Senior Class President Parker Whitson Johnson then came to the podium to welcome the graduates and spectators. Amid expressions of gratitude to families and “past and present staff members,” he commented that “When we leave here tonight we will have finished our high school careers and will each begin a new path leading us towards our futures. ”
UCHS Principal Julie Denson came to the podium to recognize the honors students and the students who had committed to continue their education in a branch of the United State military. Each set of students were asked to stand as they were recognized and remain standing until all in their group had been called.
The Outstanding Honor Students, all with a 4.0 grade point average or higher were: Kindall Mikala Johnson (also earning an AA from Florida Gateway College), Madison Dee Johnson (AA from FGC), Jaira Kinslee Highland (AA from FGC), Whitley Grace Griffis (AA from FGC), Katie Lynn Wade, Kennedy Ann Smith (AA from Santa Fe Community College), Leah Michelle Clark, Reagan Elizabeth Robinson, Perry Jefferson Johnson (AA from FGC), Colby Alan Dukes, Angela Danielle Tucker, Jayda Leigh Hendrieth, Natalie Page Gay, Hannah Elizabeth Sherrod, Karly Ann Raulerson, Abygayle Marie Fillyaw, Parker Whitson Johnson, Ian Michael Brannen, Caleb Ward Ripplinger, Dalton Alvin Lane and Adrianna Gonzalez-Maldonado.
The High Honors students, with 3.75-3.99 grade point averages, were: Carson Wade Rogers, Ethan Eric Graham, Ethan Michael Moody, Spencer Clayton Donovan Nugent, Ayden Cole Elixson, Braden James Gatlin, Monica Regina Lloyd, Auntrell Deshawn Ross, Emily Grace Richards, Drew Hamilton Manning, Ella Reese Dicks, Emma Brooke Perron, Cameron Jaylon Williams, Karleigh Jameson White, Jaycee Lynn Davis, Colton Thomas Bell and Emma Noelle Fulton.
The Honors students, with 3.5-3.749 grade point averages, were: Jordan Reece Lamb, Luke Michael Jackson, Krista Lynn Fort, Sierra Cheyenne O’Steen, Jasmin Nichole James, Joshua Blake Agner, Ian Robert Halfacre, Karly April Shatto, Kara Mackenzie Dennison, Kale Mason Waters, Kaycee Ann Parks, Zoey Shyanne Fillyaw, Hannah Diane Rivera and Blakely Rose Bryan.
In honoring the military service bound students, Denson praised their decision to make “the choice to support and defend this great nation against enemies, both foreign and domestic. ”These students are: Adam Thomas Ali – Florida Army National Guard, Alexis Celeste Cox – U. S. Air Force, Kara Mackenzie Dennison – Florida Army National Guard, Adrianna Desire Gonzalez-Maldonado – Florida Army National Guard, Claira Nichol Miller – U. S. Army, Jay Allen Parks – U. S. Marine Corps and Sierra Cheyenne O’Steen – U. S. Army.
Salutatorian Madison Johnson then took her turn at the podium to give her speech to the crowd. After thanking her family for their support, she went on to speak about the large step she and all the other graduates were taking and all the memories they had in common working towards their futures. She talked about the need for each of them to have a firm concept of who they are and what their purpose in life is. She admonished her fellow students, saying “If today were your last day, would what you did or who you were matter more? You are born looking like your parents but you die looking like your decisions. ”She stressed the value of Faith, both in deciding identity and living a successful life.
Class Valedictorian Kindall Johnson (the sister of the Salutatorian) then gave her speech. She also spoke of gratitude and memories of the years the graduates had spent getting to the current moment, but cautioned them to “live in the now,” not the past or future. “Class of 2023, stop fantasizing the future, live in the moment, treasure it in your heart, and give the glory to God. You’re not promised tomorrow, but you have today. Only you can decide what to do with it. ”
After the Alma Mater was sung by all in attendance Union County Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger came to the stage for the handing out of diplomas. Graduates were called to the stage one by one by Owen Beatty, shook hands with Ripplinger then walked on to receive their diploma from UCHS Assistant Principal Zeke Scaff. After all the diplomas had been bestowed, Ripplinger gave a short speech, thanking everyone in the community for their contributions for getting the young people to where they are now. He also thanked all of the school staff “who have invested countless hours helping to prepare the Class of 2023 for what lies ahead.” To the Class of 2023, he said, “It has been my privilege to watch you grow and succeed and reach this milestone tonight. May your lives be richly blessed and may you find success and joy in the pathway of life that is before you. ”He concluded with the words all were waiting to hear – “By the power invested in me as the Superintendent of Schools, I now pronounce you graduates of Union County High School. You may turn your tassel. ”
The students stood and filed out of the seating area to walk the traditional victory circle, ending in the far center of the field were they threw their caps. Gates from the spectator seating areas were then opened and the students were joined on the field by family, friends and well-wishers.
For the Class of 2023 the Class Flower was the white rose, the Class Song was “Live Your Life,” by T.L. featuring Rihanna, the Class Motto was “It was fun while it lasted.” School Board members attending the event were: Curtis Clyatt, Russell Gordon, Chris Hodgson, Terra Johnson and Becky Raulerson. Senior Class Sponsors were: Lindley Adkins, Allyson Beatty, Lee Clark, Ashlyn Gladding, Mark Harrison, Bonnie Honour, Jeffrey Jakubik, Erica Parrish, Liliana Perez, Ronny Pruitt, Tiandra Sirmones, Wesley Smith, Cody Tempest, Erin Waters, Jessica Williams and Elise Worthington. Ushers were: Grant Dicks, Dayquan Diston, Jonathan Edwards and Jack Whitehead. Usherettes were: Kadence Adams, Taliyah Harper, Aliyah Smith and Kayley Tomlinson.
And, last but not least, the graduates were: Joshua Blake Agner, Nadia Sophia Aldana, Justin Lee Alford, Adam Thomas Ali, Elias Cole Anderson-Davis, Annjelee Mirelys Andino, Sarah Elisabeth Archer, Kenneth Landon Banks, Danielle Leigh Barrick, Aleyna Jasmine Bell, Colton Thomas Bell, Jimmy Wayne Bennefield, Ian Michael Brannen, Blakely Rose Bryan, Zayna Saige Bryant, Haylee Alyse Buchanan, Hayley Michelle Burke, Krista Jade-Lee Cadle, Emily Brooke Chapman, Leah Michelle Clark, Jeffrey Allen Cook, Anthony Ryan Cortese Jr., Alexis Celeste Cox, Ashlinn Faith Crawford, Hayden Kage Crews, Kloe Brook Crews, Wilford Dalton Croft, Bionca Lynn Cummings, Jacyee Lynn Davis, Kara Mackenzie Dennison, Ella Reese Dicks, Daylyn O’Danata Diston, Colby Alan Dukes, Thomas Rayvon Durant, Ayden Cole Elixson, Jaysha Rose-Jean Engram, Abygayle Marie Fillyaw, Zoey Shyanne Fillyaw, Krista Lynn Fort, Emma Noelle Fulton, Major Genyria Gaffney, Madison Virginia Garber, Braden James Gatlin, Natalie Paige Gay, Sophia Lynn Gedelian, Adrianna Desire Gonzalez-Maldonado, Ethan Eric Graham, Ethan Everhett Griffis, Ronald Lemyles Griffis, Whitley Grace Griffis, Colin Christopher Hadlock, Ian Robert Halfacre, Ethan Scot Hancock, Bailey Jade Handley, Deanna Trinity Hansen, Tucker Michael Hardee, Darry Lee Hayes, Jr., Johniya Thomlisha Henderson, Jayda Leigh Hendrieth, Alyssa Jolie Hernandez, Jaira Kinslee Highland, Kayci Lynn Holder, Keaton Whitley Holmes, Johnathon Cole Huntley, Luke Michael Jackson, Jasmin Nichole James, Emma Layne Jeffers, Josilyn Chavaria Jenkins, Kindall Mikala Johnson, Madison Dee Johnson, Parker Whitson Johnson, Perry Jefferson Johnson, Hance Lee Jones, Chelsea Leah Keen, Dayven James Kelley, Angel Marie Kingsbury, Lindsay Claire Kingsbury, Jordan Reece Lamb, Dalton Alvin Lane, Matthew Edward Laux, Tre’von Demarious Lee, Monica Regina Lloyd, Drew Hamilton Manning, Isabella Abigale Manucy, Miranda Brooke Martin, Emory Austin McDaniel, Christopher Bradley Mecusker, Macy Mae Mecusker, Claira Nicole Miller, Jerremy Allen Miller, Jr., Ethan Michael Moody, Maxwell Dean Newman, Zachary Colin Norman, Jordan Frank Norris, Spencer Clayton Nugent, Sierra Cheyenne O’Steen, Kaycee Ann Parks, Jaci McGuire Patrick, Emma Brooke Perron, Jordan Alexander Pozos, Jayce Harrison Puni, Karly Ann Raulerson, Emily Grace Richards, Michael Shane Ring, Jr., Caleb Ward Ripplinger, Hailey Marie Rivera, Hannah Diane Rivera, A’nieca Joleigh Robins, Kyndall Kathryn Robinson, Reagan Elizabeth Robinson, Carson Wade Rogers, Auntrell Deshawn Ross, Ethan Dakota Rowe, Karly April Shatto, Ethan Thomas Shea, Hannah Elizabeth Sherrod, Kennedy Ann Smith, Karlie Alissa Starling, Markus Tavar Strong, Ryley Steven Suggs, Trista Lea Tamburri, Waylen Coleman Tetstone, Harlos Deon Thomas, Jr., Margreet Olivia Thomas, Charity Lynn Thompson, Dayviontae Jaquay Trayvon Thompson, Danny Lee Thornton, Jr., Hailey Marie Thornton, Talya Brielle Trent, Angela Danielle Tucker, Savana Marie Tucker, Ashlynn Paige Turknett, Katie Lynn Wade, Kale Mason Waters, Karleigh Jameson White, Hayden Joseph Whitehead, Cameron Jaylon Williams, Dermarius Deon Williams, Nysia Danae Williams, Emily Laura Wilson, Tristen Rosemarie Woodall, Daniel Haldin Woods, Michael Jan Young, Tamia Lashae Young and Caleb Jackson Zapp.
