Seniors at South Johnston High School as well as their principal said goodbye to the familiar halls they have roamed and said hello to the next stage of their lives at graduation exercises Friday night.
South Johnston joined students from around Johnston County who graduated from high school Friday night. They celebrated in the school gym with parents, friends, family members and, for the last time, Principal Dr. Eddie Price. Dr. Price is leaving the school to take a job at the Johnston County Schools central office.
He recalled many memories of the class of 2015.
“This is a tough night for me,” Dr. Price said. “”This has been a special group for me.”
Mr. Price pointed out that the class reflected a graduation rate of 96 percent. He also said the group obtained $2.5 million in scholarships.
“That is a phenomenal accomplishment for these graduates,” Mr. Price said. “If they are the ones controlling our future we are in good hands.”
Students have diverse plans for their future as they now look toward college, the military or in some cases the every day workforce. Riley Johnson is headed to N.C. State University. Both Valedictorian Carissa Womble and Salutatorian Evan Raynor are also going to N.C. State.
“I have to get through tonight and I will be ready to go,” Riley said.
Carissa will study animal science at N.C. State. “Our time at South Johnston went incredibly fast and I am going to miss all the friends I made while I was here,” Carissa said.
Another student, Lance Phillips, will study diesel technology at Lincoln College next year. “I am really excited and ready,” Lance said. Carissa told her fellow graduates to work for good in society.
“We need to start doing good tonight and never stop doing good,” Carissa said. She also quoted President Abraham Lincoln during her remarks. “It is not the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years,” Carissa quoted Lincoln as saying.
Courtesy The Daily Record
