LANCASTER — Garrard County High School’s Class of 2011 paid special tribute Friday night to one of Superintendent Donald Aldridge’s most salient attributes — his facial hair.
As more than 150 graduates received diplomas, many handed off a cloth replica of Inspector Clouseau-type mustaches.
“I think it will be funny,” said senior Ernest Atkinson as he handed out the stick-ons before the ceremony. “I just don’t want to be the person out of everyone that drops their mustache.”
While the prank provided humor, the class’s whole-hearted commitment to success stole the show at the ceremony.
Class President Chase Ballard noted that his classmates know how to balance the silly — like perhaps the school parking-lot campout Wednesday night — with the serious.
“Although we’ve had our fun, we’ve known when it was time to get down and get busy and work, and that’s why you’re all sitting here today,” he said.
Remarkably, only one senior who began the year did not graduate with the class, counselor Linda Rudolph said earlier this week. And the students who made it across the stage provided an impressive collective resume.
More than 25 graduated with grade-point averages of 3.7 or higher, and about eight received the commonwealth diploma, achieved by taking at least four AP courses in different subjects, among other things. The class also included Kentucky Governor’s Scholars, Rogers Scholars and more than 20 Youth Leadership award recipients.
Though co-salutatorian Alan Ruiz started his speech in humorous 2011 style — “Welcome to what could be the start for the longest three speeches of your life” — he earnestly thanked parents, friends, family and perhaps the most important group of people involved in the seniors’ triumphs.
“We know that without great teachers we wouldn’t have great students,” he said.
Valedictorian Amber Billingsley’s speech remarked on the melancholy truth that the Class of 2011 will likely never be under the same roof again, as they set out to pursue “supremely singular yet equally ambitious dreams.”
But the evening ended on a light note as Board of Education Chairman Joe Brown offered his opinion about the seniors’ mustached prank.
“If the class of 2012 gives out hairpieces, I’ll be good to go,” he said
The graduates
Garrard seniors graduate on light-hearted note
Garrard County High School’s 2011 graduates are:
Zachary David Asberry, Ernest Davon Atkinson-Rodney, Jayla Brooke Bailey, Anthony Chase Ballard, Ethan Riley Barker, Amber Lynn Billingsley, Brandi N. Blackburn, Alyssa Kaye Blackwell, Jessica Lee-Ann Bowman, Melanie Renee Bowman, Amber Lynn Broaddus, Hailey Jordan Brown, Faith Danielle Browning, Kaylyn Elizabeth Brusseau, Alyssa Railey Bryant, Chesney Caroline Bunton, Katherine Rachael Carey, Albert Michael Carrier, Tasha Elizabeth Renee Caudill, Christian Edward Ross Cherven, Jonathon Daniel Chiantaretto, Lucas Paul Taylor Chowning, Houston Jared Clark, Cody Michael Clarkston, Amber Nicole Coffey, Michael T. Coffey, Travis Arthur Cole, Kaitlyn Rebekah Colwell, Bradley Conn, Tiffany Raye Cooper, Timothy Coots, Hilary Jayde Cornelius, Cameron Crawford, Olivia Nicole Crawley, Mary Jo Crouch and Morgan Elizabeth Crutchfield.
Kristian Le Daugherty, Tommie Kent Davenport, Canaan Gabrielle Davis, Reno Ballou Davis, Roy Walker Davis Jr., Samantha Nicole Debord, Karley Marie Delver, Melissa Sue Denney, Kelcey Brianne Dennis, Dennis Michael Downs, Amber Lorin Dunn, Justin Durham, Morgan Rachel Eads, Jerry L. Eldridge, Zackery Ryan Epperson, Mark Jacob Fain, Chris Falconberry, Heather Morgan Ferrell, Jacob Fields, Ethan Andrew Floyd and Alexander M. Freeman.
Melissa Gaines, Valerie Anne Gaylord, Kayla Danielle Gibson, Kaylen Leigh Gifford, Brittany Nicole Gilliam, Eric Jackson Gilliam, Matthew Paul Gilliam, Stephen Glovak, Josh Goldesberry, Randall Tyler Grant, Jordan Sterling David Graves, Cassie Marie Griffin, Tyler N. Griffin, Kacey Joeann Gross, Aundraya Christine Haines, Alex Conner Hall, Rachael Lynn Hall, Stephanie Hall, Derek Gavin-Matthews Harding, Brandi Lynn Hawley, Katelynn Michelle Helton, Chelsea L. Hensley, Landon Cole Hensley, Blake Oliver Dean Hester, Audra Rachael Hiens, Jeffrey Marcus LeAnthony Holland, Mitchell Wayne Hopkins, Matthew David Hounshell, Heather Michelle Howell, Alexander C. Hulett and Cory Hamilton Hurst.
Dylan Jackson, Elizabeth Ann Jasper, Candie Jo Johnson, Stephanie Elaine Johnson, Sean Russell Kendrick, Veronica Kohli, Andrew Caesar Krusenstjerna, David Lee Lainhart, Kayla Faye Lynn Lamb, Sabrina Danielle Land, Brandon Paul Lewis, Haley Elizabeth Meadows, Donald Virgil Means Jr., James E. Miller, Dakota Bleu Miracle, Kinsey N. Moore, Jonathan David Naylor, Elizabeth Marie Newby, Trevor Ryan Noble, Jacob Curtis Oliver, Megan Linette Oliver, Seth Nicholas Orschell, Chelsie Marie Osborne, Chelsea Leigh Owen, Jared Michael Parker, Sheryl Parks, Zackary Thomas Clay Parsons, Ariana Nicole Peters, Tevis Geneal Peterson, Jacob Lee Phelps, Haden Robert Pike, Anthony Ryan Powell, Hagan Chase Poynter, Hunter W. Prewitt and Kaitlynn Lee Purcell.
Jessica Michelle Reed, Kyle Edward Reese, Jamison Ray Reynolds, John Austin Robinson, Presley Elaine Rogers, Jacob Ryan Rollins, Alan Moises Ruiz, Joseph John Land Schroeder, Hayley Marshall Scott, Joshua Senecal, Jacob Michale Seney, Joshua Andrew Simpson, Dustin Ryan Skinner, Brandi Jo Smith, Joshuah Adam Sparks, Casey Dale Spires, Blaine Alan Suel, Colten Sullivan, Justin Daniel Taylor, Robyn Marie Taylor, Gregory Austin Teabo, Magen C. Tillery, Haley Marie Vaughn, Krysta Lee Waldrop, Eric Allen Wall, Phillip A. Walter Jr., Jacob Nathaniel Warren, Josh Weldon, Luke Phillip Douglas White, Emily Rose Wilson, Jonathan Wesley Wilson, Jared Cole Worthington, Christian Blake Wynn and Sarina Monique Zimmerman.
