Tassels to start turning
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 5, 2013 1:46 PM
News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Six graduations remain for Wayne County Public Schools, kicking off this weekend. Valedictorians and salutatorians, from top left, are Rosewood High School salutatorian Patience Hill and valedictorian Kelly Grace Keen; Eastern Wayne High School salutatorian Macie Bell and valedictorian Grace Delbridge; Goldsboro High School valedictorian Shantia George; Southern Wayne High School valedictorian Mollianne Kennedy and salutatorian Cierra Moody; and Charles B. Aycock High School valedictorian Tara Simmons and salutatorian Ricky Tharrington. Back row, center, are Spring Creek High School valedictorian Daniel Larimore, left, and salutatorian Andrew Seiglie. Absent was GHS salutatorian Damarian Henderson.
Nearly 1,200 students will receive diplomas from Wayne County Public Schools this year, officials announced.
The six traditional high schools will have 1,064 graduates from the Class of 2013, while the two non-traditional schools, Wayne School of Engineering and Wayne Early/Middle College High School, which were already held, had 133 graduates.
Wayne Early/Middle College High School had 58 graduates, 24 of whom were awarded associate degrees from Wayne Community College in advance of getting their high school diploma. Eight students earned both Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, officials said.
Wayne School of Engineering had 75 students participate in the May 24 ceremonies, including current seniors, fifth-year students who opt to continue their studies an additional year while juggling high school and college-level courses. The class also had one junior to graduate with the senior class.
The bulk of commencement ceremonies for the remaining schools will be held this week. All are ticketed events.
* Rosewood High School has 127 candidates this year. The ceremony will take place Friday evening at 7 p.m. on the Branch Pope football field.
Valedictorian is Kelly Grace Keen. She plans to study poultry science at N.C. State Univer-sity. Patience Hill is salutatorian. She will be attending Meredith College, studying math and obtaining a teaching license.Saturday morning there will be three ceremonies taking place.
* Charles B. Aycock High School will have 286 graduates this year. The program starts at 9 a.m. and will be on the Hardy Talton Athletic Field.
Tara Simmons is valedictorian. She will attend Dartmouth College and studying environmental engineering. Ricky Tharrington, salutatorian, plans to major in mechanical engineering at East Carolina University.
* Eastern Wayne High School graduation also starts at 9 a.m., in Warrior Football Stadium, with 220 candidates.
Grace Delbridge, valedictorian, will go to UNC-Wilmington but is undecided about a major. Salutatorian Macie Bell will study nursing at UNC-Chapel Hill.
* Spring Creek High School will hold its ceremony in Mount Olive College Kornegay Arena at 10 a.m., awarding diplomas to 110 students.
Daniel Larimore is class valedictorian. He plans to study biology at UNC-Chapel Hill. Andrew Seiglie, salutatorian, also attending UNC-Chapel Hill, is undecided about a major.
* Southern Wayne High School ceremony will be held next Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at MOC Kornegay Arena. The school has 211 graduating this year.
Mollianne Kennedy, valedictorian, will pursue studies in pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill.Cierra Moody, salutatorian, also attending UNC-Chapel Hill, plans to major in pre-med.
* Goldsboro High School has 110 graduating this year. Ceremony will be held at Cougar Stadium on Friday evening, June 14, at 6 p.m.
Valedictorian is Shantia George. She will study criminology at N.C. State.
Damarian Henderson is salutatorian. He plans to attend St. Augustine's University.