Graduates begin walking the stage
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 21, 2004 2:06 PM
High school graduation season has arrived, with two private schools holding ceremonies this evening. Seven other schools across the county will follow suit next week.
The Wayne County public schools will have 1,086 seniors graduate this year. Five of the high schools have scheduled graduation ceremonies for Friday, May 28. Southern Wayne High School will hold its commencement exercises on Saturday, May 29.
Of the three private schools, two will hold ceremonies tonight and the third will be held Friday night, May 28.
Faith Christian Academy will see 15 students graduate this year. The Rev. Dann Patrick, pastor of Faith Free Will Baptist Church, will speak at the event tonight at 7 in the school auditorium. Allison Rebecca Scharadin is the valedictorian, and Carri Marie Cordell and Jennifer Beth Haas are co-salutatorians.
A dozen students will graduate from Wayne Christian School tonight at 7. John Rasey, professor at Piedmont Baptist College in Winston-Salem, will give the commencement address. Co-valedictorians are Leah Horton and Jessica Chong; Stephanie Joyner is salutatorian.
Next Friday, graduation exercises are planned for five public schools and one private school.
Eastern Wayne High's graduation will be held at 6 p.m. on the football field. Valedictorian Danielle Marie Bliss and salutatorian Michelle Marie Carmon will give the commencement speeches. Two hundred and fifty-four students will graduate.
Goldsboro High will hold its graduation at 6:30 p.m. in the football stadium. Valedictorian Shannon Jones and salutatorian Amber Jacobs will give the commencement addresses. One hundred and thirty-six students will be presented with diplomas.
Spring Creek High's graduation will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Commencement speakers will be valedictorian Graham Harris Wilson and salutatorian Marsha Stelena McCoy. One hundred and three students will graduate.
The Charles B. Aycock High graduation will be held at 7 p.m. on the football field. The commencement address will be given by valedictorian Jennifer Faye Williamson. The class salutatorian is Edye Strickland. Two hundred and fifty-one students will graduate.
Rosewood High's graduation will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the football field, with 109 graduation candidates. Commencement speeches will be given by valedictorian Leslie Amanda Thompson and salutatorian Jennifer Ann Routa.
Wayne Country Day will present diplomas to 14 seniors during ceremonies at 7 p.m. at the school. Barbara Ann Vinson, a 30-year English teacher at the school and co-adviser for the senior class, will be the featured speaker. Carolyn Ziemer is this year's valedictorian and Hannah Jernigan is the salutatorian.
Southern Wayne High's graduation ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 29, at 2 p.m. in College Hall on the Mount Olive College campus. Commencement speakers will be valedictorian Sterling Tadlock and salutatorian Erin Kelley. Diplomas will be presented to 235 students.