May 17, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Graduating seniors are now looking toward the next chapter in their lives after saying their goodbyes to DCHS as students during Friday night’s commencement
Three of the most outstanding members of the class were singled out for special recognition. This year’s White Rose Awards went Madison Cantrell and Andrew Fuson while the Citizenship Award was presented to Axel Rico.
The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the senior class with strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community and exemplary moral character.
The Citizenship Award is given to a student in the senior class who exemplifies strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community.
The honors, distinction, top rank, and service students were also recognized during the program.
The 184 graduates received their diplomas during the commencement, each one shaking hands and posing for pictures with Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and DCHS Principal Randy Jennings as their names were called.
(VIEW VIDEO BELOW OF DCHS CLASS PRESIDENT TREY FUSTON AND VALEDICTORIAN MADISON CANTRELL ADDRESSING THE CLASS OF 2019 DURING GRADUATION CEREMONY)
In her remarks, Valedictorian Madison Cantrell challenged her classmates to make the coming years the best ones of their lives
(VIDEO BELOW SHOWS EACH GRADUATE RECEIVING HIS OR HER DIPLOMA AND WATCH THE CAPS FLY AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM)
MAH00054 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
“Four years ago, we entered DeKalb County High School with the promise of “the absolute best years of our lives”. Now, I think we can all agree that high school has been filled with many enjoyable times with our closest friends and classmates, but even more, we all know that it hasn’t been perfect. To me, this being the best time of my life was incredibly scary. Honestly, this doom and gloom perspective that our lives are downhill from here really saddened me,” said Cantrell.
(VIEW VIDEO OF DCHS CHORUS PERFORMANCES AT GRADUATION)
M2U02989 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
“I realized that this would only be the best time of my life if I allowed it to be. Because of that, I refused to believe that this is as good as it gets. Five years from now, I want to be able to say that I am in one of the BEST times of my life. And 10 years from now. And 20. And 30. I hope that you will take this same approach to continue to better yourself in whatever phase of life you are currently in. Regardless if you are continuing to college, a technical school, the military, or the workforce, you get to decide what you will do with that opportunity, so make the most of it, find something that you can love doing, and make it the best time of your life. The years that we have spent here should continue to be great memories that we hold, but we can make this be only one of the “best times of our lives,” she said.
(VIEW VIDEO PERFORMANCE OF THE DCHS BAND FEATURING AXEL RICO)
“Thank you for being part of one of the best times of my life. Congratulations, Class of 2019. We did it,” added Cantrell.
(VIDEO IS INTRODUCTION OF DCHS CLASS OF 2019 HONORS AND DISTINCTION STUDENTS)
M2U02990 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
Referring to the late John Denver’s Country classic in his remarks, Class President Trey Fuston said no matter where life takes them, Country Roads will always bring them back home to DeKalb County either for a visit, a career, or in their minds.
“As the song says, “Take me home, country roads”. I see that as a great statement to the rest of our lives. Because as all of us know, DeKalb County has been our home for a long time. And no matter where we go, DeKalb County will always be a home for us. We will go lots of different places, each and every one of us taking different paths on our way to greatness. There are so many winding paths we will go on, curving back and forth and going through many stages of life. But, no matter what journey our separate lives take us on, one thing is forever true. There will always be those same country roads that will take us home,” said Fuston.
The program featured an Invocation by Jonathon Birmingham of the FCA Club. Presentation of the Alma Mater and performances of “The Climb” and “Country Roads” by the DCHS Chorus and performances of “The Greatest Showman” and “Czardas-Monti” by the DCHS Band. DCHS Guidance Counselor Lori Myrick introduced the honors and distinction students. Guidance Counselor Shelly Painter recognized the Top Rank and Service students in the class. Principal Jennings presented awards to both the Class Valedictorian Cantrell and the Salutatorian Megan Redmon. After the diplomas were presented, the Benediction was delivered to close out the commencement by Grace Crips, member of the FCA Club.