Class of '24: Dougherty School System hands out 834 diplomas

ALBANY — Members of the Dougherty County School Board put in some OT over the weekend, overseeing the graduation of 834 students at commencement ceremonies Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.

The festivities kicked off Friday with 257 Monroe High School graduates claiming their coveted diplomas, while 236 Dougherty High seniors were honored Saturday morning as rain poured down on the Albany Civic Center, site of all three commencement ceremonies. Some 341 Westover graduates — the school's largest-ever graduating class — closed out the weekend celebration Saturday afternoon.

“Delayed gratification means ignoring the profits for the moment and allowing them to accrue, or being patient now and awaiting the big prize,” said Monroe Principal Frederick Polite, noting — as other speakers did at the Monroe, Dougherty and Westover commencements — the impact COVID had on the graduating class. “In order to be great, it takes time and patience. Anything worth having takes time, patience and commitment. Patience plus strategy equals gratification.”

Noting that Westover's class of seniors had racked up more than $7.5 million in scholarship offers, Principal William Chunn said, "We're proud of all of the Class of '24's accomplishments. but it must be noted, Westover is an academic school."

Dougherty Principal Jerry Sanders lauded his school's Class of '24 as a group that had outstanding accomplishments.

"This class is full of miracles," he said.

Friends and loved ones lined up and stood in a steady rain Friday evening for the first of the three ceremonies. Because the final grades from colleges and universities some of the students have attended were not completed, there was not a valedictorian for the occasion. Graduates Jashawn Terry and Caleb Keaton and Polite provided remarks to the graduates.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey, one filled with hard work, dedication, and yes, sacrifice," Terry said. "From the long nights of study and home learning, we’ve shown our unwavering commitment to our goals. We’ve weathered storms together.

“The COVID-19 pandemic affected our lives, but it did not define us.”

The class represents those who are dreamers and trailblazers, whether their futures will see them entering the military service, going to college or other pursuits such as business, Terry told the audience.

“Together we possess the power to show the world about us, to shape change and be a partner for generations to come,” he said. “Congratulations, Class of 2024. Today we celebrate our achievements, but tomorrow we embark on a journey to shape the future.

“We survived so much. We are standing here; we are standing here and we are still thriving.”

Polite told the students that, in a sense, life is like a roller coaster. Once on board, there is no repeat and no exit, and those on the roller coaster will hit high and low points along the ride.

“I want this class to find the success that was born inside each of you,” he said. “Because you are capable, you are important and you were born to do great things. That’s the word.”

Dougherty High's Sanders said miracles happen on the eastside of Albany, noting 1800 Pierce Ave. "is not just an address, and the colors maroon and white aren’t just regular colors."

“That place and those colors mean way more than anything you could imagine,” Sanders said. “And if you don’t believe me, take a look at this graduating class. This class is full of miracles.”

DCHS celebrated 236 high school graduates Saturday morning – 48 of them with honors. Families and graduates braved the rain and the lightning to celebrate the graduates at the Civic Center.

Madelin Vasquez, DCHS’ STAR student, was recognized along with Salutatorian Suntrell Mitchell and Valedictorian Kiersten Johnson. Johnson said she was honored to have been a part of such a phenomenal group of students.

“You all have seen and conquered so much,” she said to her fellow graduates. “We entered high school under very unusual circumstances. Our first day of school took place on a Zoom call. The beginning of our high school years were plagued by COVID-19, which had devastating effects on our communities. The good news is we all made it here today with a story to tell.”

Sanders also took a moment to recognize students who graduated despite difficult circumstances: Eric Bass who battled cancer; Kalia Martin who fought illness; Deshawn Woodard, who at one point couldn’t walk but walked to receive his diploma; Vasequez, who is a first-generation graduate; Parrish Starling, who lost her father, and Ke’Marjae Murray, who worked until the very end to graduate.

“(There's) National Beta Recognition at Pierce Avenue, our student artwork is sitting at the White House from Pierce Avenue,” Sanders said. “Whenever you walk away today, you hold your head up because you’re nothing but walking miracles.”

Westover had three graduates — Aamya Daniels, Makayla Harris and Jayden Prise — offer addresses prior to the awarding of diplomas. Each noted that their COVID-impacted "journeys" had prepared them for, as Harris said, "what lies ahead: college, jobs and getting to know our real selves."

Prise, who said the hardship of his senior year included losing two grandparents to cancer, told his fellow graduates, "Going forward, life won't be easy, but it would be boring if it was easy."

Daniels said that, after overcoming the various struggles of their time in high school, "Now we're prepared for the next part of life."

Chunn, who singled out graduates for their accomplishments, noted that Westover had, among its large graduating class, 73 honor graduates, 117 graduates who qualified for the state HOPE Scholarship program, had shown improvement in all four academic areas and had a 93.4% graduation rate.

Each of the Westover speakers ended his or her address with the same quote: "In the words of Coach Chunn, a job well-done."