Rayville High School held its commencement ceremony Thursday, May 12, 2016 in the Rayville Arts Center. The commencement program opened with the posting of the colors by the Rayville High School JROTC, the National Anthem was sung by Michaela Hutson, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Major Lavon Wilson. The ninety-one graduates then marched down the aisle led by Valedictorian Diona Sanchez.
The invocation was given by Madison Frith. Olanike Kafaru opened with a welcome to family and friends to share in a night the 2016 graduates had all been waiting for. Miss Kafaru stated, “The Class of 2016 is a team, when one was struggling, another teammate was there to lift them up.”
Ms. Judy Johnson announced that the graduating class of 2016 earned a total of 588 dual enrollment hours through ULM and Delta and received a total of $788, 925 in scholarships.
Nicholas Romero presented the theme, “If” by Rudyard Kipling. Mr. Romero explained that the poem is about trusting yourself when doubted by others, dreaming, but not allowing dreams to cloud your judgment, and remaining virtuous among people who may not share those same virtues. As a final thought, he stated, “I know that if there is one group of people capable of upholding these ideas, it is my class of 2016.”
Valedictorian Diona Sanchez reminded her classmates that each person on the stage has done something great and contributed something great to the school. She chose the line from the poem, “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.” She went on to say that, “Whether we lost loved ones along the way or dealt with some unimaginable things, we didn’t let it break us. What we are faced with doesn’t define us. It is how we react to those things.” As a final thought, Miss Sanchez stated, “We have all learned to take what life has thrown at us and keep going. No matter where life may take us, God will provide us with the strength to fulfill the plans He has for us.”
Salutatorian Morgan Ponder selected the lines, “If you can wait and not be tired of waiting or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating, and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise.” She emphasized that it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up. Miss Ponder reflected back over the four years they had spent leading up to this one night, the memories made and the excitement of what lies ahead. She ended with a final note for the Class of 2016, “I wish the best of luck to each of you, and that God blesses each step you take when you are following Him. Thank you for four years of memories and a lifetime of friendships.”
Salutatorian Scottie Watson reminded the class of how quickly the past four years had gone by and how new responsibilities, obstacles, and challenges are now at hand. She chose the lines from the poem, “If you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, and start again at your beginnings and never breathe a word about your loss.”
Miss Watson encouraged her class to be willing to take chances in life, even if they do not always work out because you never know which one will work in your favor. “Don’t let one loss define you; learn from it and apply it to later opportunities that come your way. Take risks and don’t live a life of regrets or what if’s.”
Heather Seffens chose the lines, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too.” She focused on how easily it is to be influenced by others and what they think of you. She encouraged her classmates to believe in themselves even when others doubt them. Miss Seffens stated, “I pray that each and every one of you will remember to believe in yourself and strive to do the best in everything you do in life.”
Amber Sparks began her speech with the lines, “If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, if all men count with you, but none too much.”
She stated, “We must learn to live our lives without letting the opinion of others deter us.” Miss Sparks addressed her fellow graduates with these final words. “Now is the time to become your own person. Do not let the opinion of others affect you. Let your voice and your actions exemplify you, and make them your own, do not base your happiness around that of others and do become the person you want to be because all that and more is possible.”
The final speech for the night was given by Mr. Darian Holland. He chose the lines from the poem, “If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken/Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools/Or watch the things you gave you life to, broken,/And stoop and build’em up with worn out tools.”
Mr. Holland reminded his classmates that “you may have a difficult road as you strive and soar into greater heights.” He explained how grief and despair can overwhelm you, but to “use that despair to give you new strength that will overcome any trial that stands in your way.” To the Class of 2016, “I encourage the students of Rayville High School to be a shining light, just as our class has done in order to build a shining future.”
Pacific Miller proudly presented the Class of 2016. Principal Tommy Watson and Associate Principal Larry Wright awarded the diplomas to the graduates.
The benediction was then given by Madison Frith, who prayed for protection for the Class of 2016 as a new season started in their life. The graduates then sang the Alma Mater followed by the recessional.