Northern Vance High School Graduation

— courtesy Vance County Schools

A total of 178 seniors at Northern Vance High School received their high school diplomas during their commencement ceremony held in the morning on June 10 at McGregor Hall in Henderson.

A packed audience of approximately 1,000 parents, other family members, friends and invited local officials watched the graduates receive their diplomas. Almost 300 more guests watched the ceremony live in the overflow area in the McGregor Hall Gallery. The commencement was streamed live over the Internet, as were all local high school graduations.

Principal Andrew Markoch led the commencement ceremony. Markoch announced that members of the graduating class have received a total of $2.4 million in scholarships to attend college beginning in the fall.

The Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard at Northern Vance presented arms as graduates processed into the auditorium. They also presented the flags at the beginning of the ceremony. Graduate Jaylen Webb sang a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Connor Pendergrass was the valedictorian for the Class of 2017 as the top academic achiever among the graduates. Bailey Shelton (in second photo) was the salutatorian as the second highest academic achiever. Both presented inspirational speeches to their classmates and the audience.

Pendergrass and Shelton led the top 10 percent of academic achievers in the graduating class. Other seniors who are top academic achievers include: Megan Andrews, Jared Bennett, Brooks Falkner, Charlie Chiem, Tamiya Davis, Holly Hilliard, Sarah Howarth, Hannah Mason, Shadi Nagi, Michelle Pham, Penny Phan, Jo’el Royster, Deriana Scott, Nathaniel Stevenson, Turner Roberson, Imani Simmons and Jeffery Zheng.

High school diplomas were presented to each graduate. Assisting in the diploma presentations, in addition to Markoch, were Darlynn Oxendine, vice chairperson of the Vance County Board of Education; Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent; Dr. Cindy Bennett, assistant superintendent; Dr. Trixie Brooks, assistant superintendent; and Jennifer Bennett, assistant superintendent. Lemondre Watson, an assistant principal at Northern Vance, introduced each of the graduates as they came across the stage to receive their diplomas.