Warren Central High School seniors will flip their tassels May 27 from the right side of their cap to the left, signifying their journey through high school has come to a close.

There helping them through the final leg of the race have been senior sponsors Donna Harper and Andrea Fairchild.

The two oversee many projects throughout the year, including the class’ senior homecoming float and the legacy the senior class will leave.

Fairchild said this year the students purchased blue honor society stoles to complement the new red regalia as their legacy.

“The main thing is to instill in the kids this idea of being in community service,” she said. “Of course that’s right here at Warren Central first, taking care of ourselves, but it’s also taking care of members of our community. They don’t have a lot of experience, so they need someone who can guide them in that.”

Fairchild teaches freshman all the way up to seniors at Warren Central, and she said it’s interesting to watch them grow up.

“People you think may not be a great leader when they’re a freshman can really blossom,” she said. “Now, the whole world is at their feet when they graduate from high school. They have unlimited options, and hopefully we’ve set them up that they’ll make good choices.”

Harper teaches senior English and said she has enjoyed watching the students grow.

“We’ve had a lot of success stories this year with attitude and motivation,” she said. “They’ve adjusted well to the changes. They love Mr. Creel, but they’ve done well with Mr. Green (the school’s new principal, who started last fall.)”

The teachers added the real fun is watching the students continue to grow once they’ve left high school.

Harper admitted she is the crier of the two teachers.

“I cry a lot,” she said. “I’m sappy. I cry at every graduation. Especially at last year’s graduation with Afton Wallace.”

Wallace, a senior at Warren Central last year, walked across the stage after a year of battling stage IV cancer. She passed away May 24, 2015, just days after graduation.

“A lot of the kids are starting to talk about it again,” Fairchild said. “A lot of them said she really helped give them perspective in life. She was — even before the cancer — very well liked. They realized anything could happen at any time, and you’ve got to make use of the time you have.”

Fairchild said the class has been very focused on making everything count, a tribute to Wallace’s legacy.

Editor’s note: This story is the third in a series of four, publishing each Tuesday leading up the local high schools’ graduations. 

The stories are meant to highlight the schools’ senior sponsors, often unsung heroes, who help students bridge the gap to adulthood.