RIPPLE/Lindsay Craven
Forbush High School seniors toss their caps in celebration after Principal Chris Nichols declares them graduates. The ceremony was held June 8 at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
RIPPLE/Lindsay Craven
A student acknowledges the cheers from his family as he crosses the stage to receive his diploma.
RIPPLE/Lindsay Craven
Forbush High School graduates file in to the church to begin the graduation ceremony. 225 students received their diplomas.
RIPPLE/Lindsay Craven
Senior Class President Grayson Fulp addresses his fellow students.
Forbush High School said so long to 225 graduating seniors on June 8.
The ceremony was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
Calvary Baptist was filled to capacity as families, friends and faculty gathered together to congratulate and see off the class of 2012 as they entered into a new chapter in their lives.
“Seniors, what a proud moment that this is for you and your families for reaching this most important milestone in your life,” Principal Chris Nichols said. “You have spent the last 13 years in school, and it culminates tonight with the awarding of your diploma.”
The salutatorian, senior class president and valedictorian addressed their fellow students.
“I wanted to address something that each graduate seated here tonight could relate to; some shared experience, some universal truth that we’d all come to realize,” Salutatorian Ezekiel Chochrane said. “However, I came to realize that there are no such experiences to be accounted for because these last four years have been completely unique. There are no words I could say to sum up the past 2,880 class periods.”
Senior Class President Grayson Fulp chose to reminisce of the memories the class of 2012 has shared over the past four years. Fulp recalled when fellow students were forced to take a breathalyzer test after being seen drinking sparkling grape juice and the school principal stood in the lunchroom in a cap and gown holding a sign that said “will work for diploma.”
“I was told once by someone that the best graduation speech they’d ever heard was from a guy who talked about a big chimichanga,” Fulp said. “The guy told the crowd that life was like a big chimichanga. I’m not really sure what that means, but I guess my speech is the best now too.”
The class valedictorian Erika Sudderth shared the epiphany that the class of 2012 just may miss its high school days after all.
“As I went through this year graduation seemed to look better and better, I didn’t understand why everyone said enjoy it while you can, you’ll miss it one day,” Sudderth said. “Now I realize that they weren’t talking about sitting in the classroom and taking notes. They meant the time spent outside of school; all the jokes and laughter shared with friends, times when learning extended outside of the classroom into everyday life.”
Approximately 20 percent of the graduating class will attend a four-year university. Another 18 percent will attend community college and transfer to a university and 25 percent will complete their high education at a community college. About 12 percent of Forbush graduates plan to go directly into the workforce.
The class received a total of $328,001 in scholarship funds.
Principal Nichols left the class with this final thought of the evening.
“I hope you all leave this place tonight with happy memories and proud families,” Nichols said. “I hope you will leave here tonight with plans for safe celebrations, remember to always drink Pepsi and use good sense. God bless you and good luck.”
Reach Lindsay Craven at 679-2341 or at lcraven@heartlandpublications.com.
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