After almost 17 inches of rain fell on Vicksburg Monday morning, the Vicksburg Convention Center made accommodations to host both Vicksburg and Warren Central high school’s commencement ceremonies Thursday.

Vicksburg High School saw its top 10 brightest students graduate with GPAs ranging from 4.06 to 4.63, held by valedictorian Amy Dixon.

Warren Central High School had 243 young men and women move their tassels from the right to the left side of their mortarboards to officially become Warren Central High School’s 50th graduating class.

A Transition

Graduation symbolizes growth and accomplishment for a student. As the students moved their tassels, it symbolized a transition from adolescence into adulthood.

For the 183 graduating seniors at Vicksburg High School, this means they have entered the real world.

Family and friends shouted with joy when students began walking in. Those shouts continued all throughout the ceremony as they received their diplomas. The graduates also smiled and cheered for friends and fellow classmates.

VHS graduate Henry Johnson acknowledged that although the weather kept them from graduating on the football field, this was still an enjoyable experience.

“It’s a lot of folks that can’t say that they made it and I made it this far. I look forward to going to college,” Johnson said.

Johnson plans on attending Mississippi Delta Community College and trying out for the football team as a defensive tackle walk-on. Johnson said it felt good to hear his family cheer him on and hopes that others after him continue to do well in school and follow in his shoes.

“Graduation is a beautiful thing,” Johnson said.

 

Emotional Ceremony

In what was a very emotional ceremony for WCHS, many tears were shed for the graduates who walked across the stage, the graduate who was just happy to be well enough to be there and for the honorary graduate who wasn’t able to share the experience with his classmates.

The 243 graduates should have been 244, but one classmate was noticeably missing — Cannon Thomas Lampkin.

Lampkin died Nov. 30, 2012, as the result of an automobile accident, and at the graduation his family was presented with an honorary diploma.

Lampkin’s mother, Lori Lampkin, said it was an honor.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this class,” she said. “They were more than just Cannon’s friends; they were his family.”

 

Hard Knocks

“For some, they will have to continue at the school of hard knocks, but they will come around,” said Lois Coleman, Vicksburg High School guidance counselor.

“I would tell them one day you’ll see how it benefits you and what you learned in high school will be important.”

Coleman’s job is to prepare high school students for life after graduation. Coleman said for the most part the students took her advice and listened. Coleman watched the graduates grow academically and become more responsible. She feels the class of 2015 has so much leadership potential and can affect the world in political, spiritual, academic and public service arenas after graduation.

 

Teachable Moments

Kearean Parker is VHS’s secretary and knew all the kids’ names and if not their names, she knew their faces. Parker said when they entered high school as freshman, some are nervous and rambunctious, but after a while they calm down and become themselves.

Parker would use everyday mishaps as teachable moments.

“I would tell them you can’t be late for your job and you can’t have an attitude with one another or whomever you’re working with.”

Parker wants the students to keep pushing on in life and become the men and women she knows they are capable of becoming.

 

Never Give Up

Superintendent Chad Shealy borrowed the words of Winston Churchill as he talked about Warren Central’s Star Student, Afton Wallace: Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.

Afton Wallace, a graduate who was diagnosed with stage IV cancer May 22 of last year, was a focal point of nearly every speech given, and she received a standing ovation from the packed convention center as she walked in front of the stage to receive her diploma.

Wallace said the senior class has been one giant support group for her.

“They have been a great support to me and to each other and we are always there for each other,” she said of her senior class. “We’re Afton Strong.”

Wallace, who made a 33 on her ACT while undergoing chemotherapy, was Warren Central’s Star Student, and she selected Terry Wong as her Star Teacher.

“It took years and years of preparation,” she said. “You don’t just study a book over and over and over six times and get a good score.”

 

Giving Back

Warren Central Student Council president Hannah Gore said the senior class found the perfect way to give back to their high school.

“Every year each class gives Mr. Creel a keepsake to remind him of our class,” she said. “This year the class of 2015 is the 50th graduating class from Warren Central.”

Gore said the senior class gave principal Jamie Creel $121.50.

“Our senior class donated money in order for us to purchase a 50 cent piece to give Mr. Creel to put in a jar in his office so that he will never forget the 50th graduating class of Warren Central High School,” she said. “Each senior gave Mr. Creel the 50 cent piece during graduation after we received our diploma so that at the end of graduation, he has a pocket full of 50 cent pieces to never forget our class.”

 

Bittersweet

Warren Central’s Brandon Smith said graduation was bittersweet.

“It really wasn’t sad until it hits you,” he said. “It didn’t seem like we were really seniors until this one night.”

Smith said the hardest part of graduating is leaving so many of his friends.

“I’ve been ready to get out for a while, but I didn’t think it would be like this, leaving all your friends behind,” he said. “It’s like a different part of life.”

Smith, who was the manager of the baseball team, said he will miss those guys the most.

“I’m going to miss the baseball team like crazy,” he said. “I spent a lot of time with them.”

Smith said the team is probably the best baseball team the school has had since 2001.

“I felt a real brotherhood with that team,” he said. “They helped me out as much as I helped them.”

Smith plans to attend Mississippi State in the fall where he will major in political science.

“A lot of my close friends will be going to Starkville,” he said. “I think a lot of us will have a lot of classes together.”

 

A Great Place

Vicksburg’s Antonio Moore played basketball his junior and senior years at Vicksburg High and will miss basketball, friends and some faculty members.

Moore recognized the growth and maturity in himself throughout the past four years.

“I’ve matured socially, physically I’ve gotten stronger through basketball, mentally and emotionally,” Moore said.

Moore has learned the importance of being on time, which will benefit him as he plans to play basketball for Alcorn State and eventually join the Marines.

“I just want to thank God and my family for helping me through,” Moore said. “Vicksburg is a great place to graduate from.”