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Northumberland graduates champions
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| by Reid Pierce Armstrong |
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HEATHSVILLE—The Northumberland High School Class of 2009 was a historical class in more ways than one. It had to meet the toughest graduation standards in history and it was first at almost everything it did, earning it the nickname “The Champions.”
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 click above to start photo array. (Quality prints may be purchased here.) |
It was the first class to attend the new Northumberland Elementary school from kindergarten through fifth grade.
In third grade, it was the first class to take the first Standards of Learning (SOL) exams, which were being given for the first time in Virginia.
It was the first freshman class ever to beat the seniors during Spirit Week competitions before homecoming, and it won every year after that.
It was the first class to have its top students attend the Chesapeake Bay Governors School as sophomores.
“We have always striven to be the best we can be,” said class historian Samantha Haynie.
The class of 2009 “is known for its charisma, determination, potential, leadership and responsibility,” Haynie said.
As seniors, the class won a new title for itself. It became The Last.
“I am proud to say that I am part of the last class to graduate from the same school all of my family members went to,” Haynie said. “We are all proud and excited that we will be the last class to graduate from ‘Old’ Northumberland High School.”
At the graduation ceremony June 13 on the athletic field behind the old high school, superintendent Clint Stables drew cheers with the statement: “We saved the best for last.”
The top five students offered their own words of wisdom to their peers:
“Do your work. I can personally say that it doesn’t always have to be done well, but not doing it will seriously mess matters up. This doesn’t apply just to your GPA. To pass the big class, life, you have to do the work too,” said valedictorian Ruth Hedberg.
“We’re all going to hit roadblocks, and the temptation to complain about them or expect other people to get us past them is always going to be there, but we’re going to have to do it ourselves. That’s what being in the real world means. Personal responsibility. Handling our own problems,” said salutatorian Hillary May.
“Whenever you are faced with a choice, don’t just go down the easy path with everybody else. Make the choice that is right. We all have the potential to do great things, we just have to choose to unleash it,” said Joshua Nicholson.
“The songs on the playlist of our lives can be sad, or sentimental, or stirring or exciting. But the great thing is that this playlist is unlimited; we will continue to add more songs in what will become lives full of memories,” said Lara Belfield.
“I do believe that we are all champions,” said Tricia Brennan. “To become a champion one must succeed in three tasks: endure resistance, persevere through that resistance, and triumph. Throughout our high school years, we have all encountered this first step: resistance. However, because we are here today it is clear that every student here accomplished step two, and persevered through that resistance. Today we have reached that third step that will name our class as champions. Class of 2009…. Today is our day of triumph!”
The 100 members of the Northumberland High School Class of 2009 are Curtis Justin Albrite, Tylar Allyssia Anderson, Patricia Rae Baker*, Lara Kristine Belfield*, Caitlin Sue Bradley*, Anna Patricia Brennan*, James Matthew Bryant, Damon Lee Campbell*, Britney Casandra Carter* and Amanda Nicole Casebolt.
Also, Jason Andre Caster, Lacy Michelle Clark, Darrin Jay Clegg II*, Devan Mark Cockrell*, Nicholas Aaron Cogar*, Deon Lenard Coles, Kyle Shervelle “K.C.” Conaway, Durell Henry Cottrell, Marcus Renard Crawley and Fenton Kelly Crowther.
Also, Candice Marie Davis, Lewis Jennings Dawson*, Joel Carter Deihl, Loren Nicole Deihl, Carolmane Tolice Diggs, Sarah Ann Duncan*, Graziella Lorenzatto Eiras*, Ashley Blake Ford*, Brenda Marie Gilliam* and Darlene Elizabeth Gogates.
Also, Dewon Monte Gordon, Samantha Nicole Gordon, John Zachary Hall, Sebastian Matthew Harding, Emma Katherine Harrison, Daniela Kathleen Harvey*, Kimberly Jamese Hayes, Whitney Janese Hayes, Emory Vincent Haynie and Samantha Lee Haynie*.
Also, Emily Florence Headley*, Ruth Weller Hedberg**, Lakeau Shanea Holden, Jocelyn Romaine Horner, Morgan Nicole Howard, Earl James Hutchinson, Amanda Nicole Jenkins, Christina Marie Jett, Nicole Catherine Jett and Franchele Niccole Jones.
Also, Mary Frances Kelly*, Thomas Earl Kelly Jr., Dalton Shane Keyser*, Jennifer Nicole King, Carson Pierce Klein, Zachary Cade Kues*, Andrew Charles Lake, Kasey Leigh Lawson**, Ashley Maria Lee*, Jason Thomas Lewis and Maegan Clay Lewis*.
Also, Jared Lee Madison, Hillary Diane May**, Michael William McAdoo Jr., Almeda Caroline McKenney**, Lauren Elizabeth Mitchell*, Jessica Mae Morris, Anjelica Lane Newsome*, Elizabeth Lee Newsome*, Margaret Page Newsome* and Tyler Lamont Newton.
Aso, Joshua Jacob Nicholson*, Cody Montana Payne, Rachel Myra Payne, Joshua Michael Rew, Heather Lynn Rice, Kantice Monae Rice, Alvin Bryan Ridley, Tiffany Elizabeth Robinson, Leonard LeRoy Rock III and Thomas Brooks Saunders.
Also, Jared Stephen Scripture, Latasha Lynette Seldon, Shelby Ann Sena, Nicole Noel Shepherd*, Sarah Ashley Sinclair*, Gabriel Sweet Smith, William Blaine Swann*, Torre August Tatem, Danyell Janeen Thompson and Quinton Pernell Thompson.
Also,Tiffany Annette Turner, Kayla Marie Vanlandingham, Neal Justin Veney, John David Walston, Justin Alan Welch*, Cassidy Faye White, Allen Tehern Williams, Kristi Lynne Yeatman and Charnele Samone Young*.
* graduated with honors
** graduated from Governors School with honors |
| Click above to start slide show |
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