Even if some mothers and fathers were a little saddened to see their children set out on their own course as individuals, they also were proud of what their graduates had accomplished.
"He was a good kid," said Cleo Greer of his son Blake Greer. "He was on honor roll all through school. He had no problems at all."
Class President Jordan Wilkinson summed up the meaning of the ceremony when he addressed his fellow classmates.
"We're now ready to start with a clean slate on a new journey," Wilkinson said.
Although new lives defined by personal choice no doubt lay ahead, Salutatorian Brodie Hart pointed out that no human exercises total control over their existence, and only an acceptance of this reality will make the path forward easier to bear.
"Our futures are cradled in the hands of God," Hart said.
Regardless of how students and parents interpreted life after high school, no one could debate the fact that one chapter in life was being closed, and a new one was being opened.
"This could be considered an end, but I prefer to look at it as a beginning," said Valedictorian Lauren Vanhook.
Listing of graduates
Lincoln County High School provided this list of the class of 2008:
Jessica Morgan Adams, Stephanie Lynn Adams. McKenzie Gayle Albright, Brittany Michelle Allen, Tiffany Dawn Anderson, Amanda Christine Aube, Matthew Jordan Baker, Nicholas Grant Baker, Sarah Lynn Baugh, Brittany Benedict Robinson, Demitria Nicole Benson, Carrie Allen Biggs, Kayla Lynn Blanton, Darsey Borden, Devin Michael Bradley, Andy Bratcher, Krystal Dawn Brian, Kaitlin Rayann Brown.
Morgan Ann Brown, Dustin A. Brummett, Dana Bunch, Clinton Burgess, Hailey Dawn Burke, Nathan Bustle, Alonda L. Calder, Jeffery Carlson, Brittany Scott Carpenter, Chauna Lorraine Caudill, Miranda Leann Caudill, Christopher Scott Cheatham, Jessica L. Clem, Kasey Clem, Jessica Marie Coers, Mason S. Coffman, Cicily Ann Coleman, Jacklyn Leann Coleman, Alyssa Combs, Chasity Tenille Cooper, Wes-Lee Ryan Cooper.
Jamie Danielle Cornett, Marricca Suezann Cornett, Marissa Ann Crank, William Ryan Crank, Brian Keith Crawley, Mollee Elizebeth Jennie Creech, William Adam Culbertson, Brittany R. Curtis, Justin Wayne Dalton, Justin L. Davis, Christi Lynn Day, Amanda Lynn Denny, Devon Robert Denson, Cody Blaine Dixon, Rebecca Lynn Dobbs, Kevin Bowman Drakeford, Jacob E. Duff, Sadie Elizabeth Durham.
Jacob Brett Dyehouse, Dustyn Starr Eckler, Kimberly Ann Edwards, Cecily Anna Ehrsam, Devin Tyler Estes, Matthew Corey Estes, William Aaron Farmer, Chad L. Farris, Jan Tyler Fish, Joshua Randale Foister, Cody A. Fox, Jennifer Nicole Fox, Matthew Ezzriah Thomas Gaddis, Rebekah Leigh Gevedon, Sue Ann Gifford, Christopher Allan Finley Godbey, Dustin Lee Godbey, Anika Helena Gooch.
Lauren Ashton Gooch, William Chancellor Gooch, Michael Dakota Goode, Sherri Alois Goode, Heather Nicole Gordon, Adam Quinn Lewis Gossett, Kristen Michelle Grant, Blake A. Greer, Adam C. Grizzell, Hannah Sallee Grubbs, Bridgette Savannah Gullett, Clinton Andrew Hall, Josh Hampton, Brittany Eileen Harper Warmouth, Lucas Boyd Harris, Raychel Linn Harrison, Matthew Brodie Hart.
Seth Richard Hastie, Chelsea Jean Hatter, Jesse Maseiga Hayes, Gary Allen Hebrock, Kayla Tameisha Helm, Rachel Marie Hobdy, Jordan W. Hogue, Kateland Leigh Howard, Stephanie Michelle Howerton, Rachel Selene Hubble, Josh Hurst, David Keith Hurt,Victoria Margaret Ellen Isaacs, Ashley Lynn Johnson, Erik Johnson, Lauren Gail Jones, Lindsay Kathryn Jones, Nick Jones, Noah Alexander Keeton.
Rachel Leeann Kirby, Laura Sioux Kirkpatrick, Savannah Jo Lane, Emily Sarah Lay, Stephen Edward Legere, Jacob Leigh, Brittany Marie Long, Jesslyn Brianne Long, Kristopher Shane Long, Lauren Beth Long, Shane Allan Lotta, Dustin Tyler Lovett, Jason Cody Lowe, Samantha Jo Luster, Samantha Leann Luttrell, Samantha Lauren Lyons, Kimberly Ann Madden, Arika Don Manuel.
