Union County graduates embrace next steps

“The time has come to end our journey through high school, and what might have felt like a never-ending 13 years is just a new beginning,” West said. “Our experiences are like many puzzle pieces that all fit together.”

And everything certainly came together that night to lead 223 young souls across the field to accept their diplomas before facing bright futures.

As noted by West and UCHS Principal Josh Davis, this class stands out; 71% of them are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, at least one already has a college degree and many more have secured the first steps for jobs in health care, business and more besides.

Aubrie Akins, Lily Helton and Jayden Karnes delivered a class reflection, pulling from their own experiences as three life-long best friends to guide their peers through memories of primary, elementary, middle and finally high school, and how it all shaped them into the people gathered before the podium, ready to take on the world.

Then, Hope Taylor sang a powerful rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” as a sendoff for her classmates.

Salutatorian Turner West spoke from the heart as he addressed his class, emphasizing that growth is a lifelong journey, and success is not a destination, but a path. Something can be gleaned from the challenge as much as the goal.

“Life is hard, so embrace it. The world that you’re stepping into is bigger, louder and far less predictable than we’ve known – and yes, it’s going to be challenging,” West gently reminded his classmates. “Some of the most meaningful moments in life will come from discomfort, challenge and uncertainty.”

Valedictorian Mikala Souther carried a similar message, maintaining that failure is a necessary part of learning – and, on a larger scale, life. She also voiced her pride in her class and thanked all the people who helped her along the journey to where she is today.

“Tonight, I want to ask each of you, ‘What is your why?’” Souther challenged. “As we step into this next chapter – college, careers and unknown roads – I hope that you carry that reason close to your heart. Let it guide you. Let it ground you. Let it remind you in the hardest of times why you started in the first place.”

Davis and Wesley Garrett presented the Class of 2025 with their diplomas before the turning of the tassels ceremony headed by Coach Mandy Hunter and the presentation of the class courtesy of Superintendent John Hill, officially marking the group as graduates of Union County High.

“Graduates, remember this,” instructed Davis. “No matter where you go, no matter what you do, you carry with you the spirit of Union County. You are strong, you are capable, and you are ready.”

From there, Ariel McCarter, Ava Arthur and Hensley Adams sang the school’s alma mater, and Eliyah Ochoa offered some words in closing:

“Maybe being ready isn’t about having all of the answers, but instead, it’s about having to move forward, even into the unknown, and this is the moment where we will do just that … As our plans take us across the state, nation or even the world, I hope we look back and remember the outstanding impression that Union County Schools left in our lives.”

Afterward, the lights went out save for the brilliant purple backing of the new stadium lamps, and the Class of 2025 once again reminisced through everything they’d been through together with a slideshow set to the class song, Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”

Fireworks lit up the sky just before the audience was allowed on the field to embrace, high five, pose for pictures or exchange thanks and praise. From there, folks slowly began to filter out, but the fact remained that this year’s graduates have promising futures ahead of them.