Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Tiger Stadium Filled To Capacity
PRAIRIE GROVE — Tiger stadium was filled to capacity with friends, family, teachers and school officials on Saturday as Prairie Grove’s Class of 2012 received their diplomas.
The diplomas were given to each graduating senior after a ceremony of awards, songs, speeches of reminisces and encouragement from two students, and praise from Principal Ronald Bond and Superintendent Dr. Allen Williams.
Bond, Williams and Counselor Chris Arnold praised the Class of 2012 for their many achievements
in academic and athletic excellence.
The 111 students making up the Class of 2012 received more than $ 3.3 million in higher education scholarships. They set a school record in Advanced Placement classes and set a state record on scoring high on the EOC Literacy Exam.
“It’s been a rewarding year,” Arnold said.
“Seniors, this is your time,” Williams said. “Some of you made it through some obstacles, some made it through more easily. This is your time — enjoy it.”
Bond said the seniors at Prairie Grove had been “very talented.” He introduced Philip Shepherd, who sang “These Days.” Savannah Black sang “Chances,” and Kyle Ates sang “Remember Those Days.”
Earlier in the ceremony, the Prairie Grove band played as the choir sang both the “Star Spangled Banner” and the school’s Alma Mater.
Graduating senior Daniel Schrock told his fellow classmates, “Make decisions with the best intentions ... if you make a mistake remember we’re only human and make no excuses — stand up, dust yourself off, continue on.”
Using a couple of quotes by authors, Schrock ended with, “Set your goals high, have no regrets and set the world on fire.”
“We’re the last graduating class to span two centuries,” said Class President Chad Battles. “We can remember when phones were dumb, not smart and when birds were the only ones that tweeted. “We got through Y2K and watched 9/11 on TV in the second grade.
“Overall though I remember our biggest concern being how big a phone did I have in the library,” Battles said.
Battles said his favorite thing about the Class of 2012 was the fact, “We were always happy when someone succeeded. We were always proud of one another.
“We can look back with fondness on the memories we made but now we go forward, separately and together,” Battles said.
Battles used “Aloha,” the Hawaiian greeting for hello and good-bye prior to, and at the end of, the address to his classmates.
“Aloha — farewell until next time,” Battles said.
The annual Billy Maxey Memorial Award was presented to Michael Bond by Lynn Maxey Hussell.
Jon Halbert and Faith Smith served as attendants; ushers included Zac Galligan and Cecelia Martinez, Jacob Kahl and Erin Galloway; flag bearers were West Bartholomew and Megan Gerwig.