Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington Graduates Remember Classmate
FAYETTEVILLE — The Farmington High Class of 2013 remembered one of its own Thursday night.
Orey Scott Hopper died in third grade after falling off the trailer during a church hayride.
Hopper would have graduated with the Class of 2013.
The seniors decorated and signed two graduation caps and placed them on what would have been Orey’s chair at the 2013 Commencement ceremony at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville.
Farmington’s graduation ceremony always includes a class history, giving highlights of each grade. This year, graduates Brandee Byrd, Presley Ramey and Audrey
Rodgers gave the history.
As Byrd talked about third grade, she asked everyone to observe a moment of silence in honor of their classmate.
“Orey, you will always be with us,” Byrd said.
Another Farmington tradition is the Orey Scott Hopper “Huggie” Award, given to a graduate who has shown compassion and service to others. Orey was known by his friends and teachers for his compassion for others and famous for his “hugs.” Orey’s brother, Kaid Hopper, presented this year’s recipient, Chris Sims.
The $ 1,000 scholarship will be given out each year until Kaid Hopper graduates.
Parents, grandparents, friends, teachers and many others cheered as 158 seniors crossed the stage to accept their high school diplomas from Principal Bob Echols. The graduates received more than $1.8 million in scholarship offers.
Josh Shaw was class vale- dictorian and Bo Blew and Josh Mueller were class salutatorians.
Shaw encouraged his fellow graduates to find their “voice,” not their literal voice but their identity.
“I came to Farmington High School without a voice. Very little purpose or resolve,” Shaw said.
He said he came to the conclusion “that high school, as a microcosm of life, is simply about finding your voice.”
For those who have not found their voice, Shaw pointed out time is on their side.
“We have time to go into the world and find our purpose.”
Blew talked about Farmington as the foundation for the graduates.
“This is your launching pad and safety net,” Blew said, adding, “Farmington is our bedrock, our shelter, and tonight, our boot out the door.”
He said the graduates are not walking across the stage alone but with “13 years of memories, 13 years of friends and family, 13 years of teachers helping us.”
Mueller urged his classmates to fight against apathy and seek to make a difference in their community and to actively pursue helping others.
“The task of making a difference in your community may seem daunting but a difference can be made by pouring into the lives of others,” Mueller said.
In giving the class history, the theme was that the Class of 2013 was “lucky.”
As Rodgers talked about their senior year, she said, “We are luckiest that we are the only class to have Mr. Echols as a principal. Thank you, sir, for making our senior year a great year.”
Sen io r Ka the r ine Ganoung gave the invocation and class president Leslie Peters gave the welcome. The Crimson Select Ensemble sang the National Anthem and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” The Farmington Cardinal Band performed prior to the graduation ceremony and played the processional, “Pomp and Circumstance.”