(WIZS Radio, Your Community Voice, broadcast all four VCS graduations.)
– Vance County Schools Press Release –
Graduation is an important milestone; one that commemorates and honors the hard work of students over the course of 13 years, as well as their families. Vance County Schools held the Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises, in-person, for all four district high schools: Vance Virtual Village Academy, Advance Academy, Vance County High and Vance County Early College.
Each graduation took place on Monday, May 24 with Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, along with the school principal of each respective school, presenting diplomas as seniors walked across the stage.
Commencement Ceremonies
- Vance Virtual Village Academy, Vance County School’s K-12 virtual school, graduated 20 seniors in its inaugural class. Principal Jessica Perry awarded diplomas to the students at an 8:30 AMceremony at the Vance County High School gymnasium. Graduate Camron Silvious address the Class of 2021, while Heddie Somerville, Principal at Clarke Elementary, was the keynote speaker.
- Advance Academy, Vance County School’s flex school, graduated 96 students, with diplomas awarded by Principal Stephanie Ayscue. Commencement took place at a 10 AM ceremony at the Vance County High School stadium.
- Vance County High School, the district’s traditional high school, graduated 175 students. At a
1:30 PM ceremony, held at the Vance County High School stadium, Principal Rey Horner awarded
diplomas. Tymiah Aniece Wimbush, Class of 2021 graduate, shared a poem to her fellow class. - Vance County Early College Principal, Travis Taylor, awarded 63 diplomas at a 4 PM ceremony at
the Vance County High School gymnasium. Jorge Gomez Mancilla and Sarah Elizabeth Parish,
Class of 2021 graduates, gave a farewell address.
Academic Achievements
As a district we honor and celebrate the academic achievements of our top high school scholars using the Latin honors system: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude. The Class of 2021 worked hard and remained dedicated to their studies during a challenging year. Collectively, Vance County Schools honored 25 Summa Cum Laude, 20 Magna Cum Laude and 28 Cum Laude students.
Additionally, students earned 3,557 college credits while enrolled in high school. Of those, 48 students received their Associates degree. The class boasts 14 North Carolina Scholars, 60 National Beta Club members, as well as 24 National Honor Society members.
The Journey Beyond Graduation
The school district has 14 graduates enlisting into the United States military, including the US Army, US Air Force and US Navy. Additionally, there are 50 graduates who have already secured full-time employment and 158 accepted into college, earning nearly 7 million dollars in scholarships and grants! The Class of 2021 received college acceptances from the following:
Appalachian State University | Averett University | Barton College | Belmont Abbey College | Brevard College | Campbell University | Cape Fear Community College | Catawba College | Chowan University | Clemson University | College of Charleston | Concord University | Durham Tech | East Carolina University | Elizabeth City State University | Elon University | Fayetteville State University | Gardner-Webb University | Grace College | Greensboro College | Guilford College | Hawaii Pacific University | High Point University | Hollins University | Howard University | Jacksonville State University | Johnson & Wales University | Kansas State University | Lees-McRae College | Lenoir Rhyne University | Livingstone College | Louisburg College | Louisiana State University | Mars Hill University | Mary Baldwin University | Meredith College | Methodist University | Michigan State
University | North Carolina A&T State University | North Carolina Central University | North Carolina State University | North Carolina Wesleyan | New Jersey City University | Ohio State University| Old Dominion University | Queens University | Radford University | Roanoke College | Saint Augustine University | Saint Martin University | Shaw University | Southern Mississippi University | Strayer University | The New School New York | The University of Akron | The University of New Mexico | The University of Tennessee at Knoxville | University of California at San Diego | University of North Carolina at Asheville | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of California at Riverside | University of Kentucky | University of Mount Olive | University of Nevada at Las Vegas | University of Northern Colorado | University of Oregon | Vance Granville Community College | Virginia Tech | Wake Tech Community College | Washington and Lee University | Western Carolina University | William Peace University | Wingate University | Winston Salem State University
Vance County Schools is extremely proud of the 354 Class of 2021 graduates. They have moved beyond obstacles placed before them, including a public health crisis, proving their resilience. We are confident the Class of 2021 will go forth and do great things!
