Class of 2020 finally graduated

The humid June air broke just in time for the seniors to officially graduate on Friday, June 12th.

Although there were fewer cars parked in the grass due to the 8-ticket per senior limit, that did not limit the amount of support this year's seniors felt as they walked across the stage.

Each speaker gave a heartfelt goodbye and a warm welcome to each senior's future.

Class President, Lathan Powers, commemorated all the memories made, "That is ultimately how we'll measure our time here. Not in days, periods, semesters, or years, but in the friendships we have made and the time we've had together."

Rachel King, Salutatorian, asked her fellow classmates to never give up, "As we move on to our next journey in life, I ask you to try. Try to make a difference, try to be kind to everyone, try to do your best, and try to make your dreams possible. Try and don't ever quit."

Valedictorian Abagayle Brock put the graduates' not-so-typical senior year into perspective, "If you had told me I would have spent the last two and a half months of my senior year in quarantine, I wouldn't have believed you... If you had told me I could not play the sport I love during my senior year, I would not have believed you... If you had told me my last day of school would have been a cold, rainy day in March, I would not have believed you."

It was clear to all who attended that this year's graduating class was a tightly-knit one, even with the faculty.

Stacey Hinson Graves, LCHS Principal, teared up as she read, "You are my kids. As you leave, you take a piece of my heart... I will always be behind you cheering you on. Thank you to the class of 2020 for four wonderful years... well, three years and a few months short. I love you all."

Director of Lewis County Schools, Benny Pace, even commemorated this year's seniors before handing our their diplomas, "This is a special group to me. Because I have a son in this class, I have gotten to watch you grow... You truly know how to go out with a bang. You are like no other... You will be missed."

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the typical Awards Night was canceled and awards were announced as each recipient walked across the stage and received their diploma. This year's scholarships were awarded as listed below:

UT Martin Scholarships: Chanley Baker, Cade Banks, Cole Bates, Zachary Benson, Abigail Brewer, Alexandria Carroll, Caleb Carroll, Cade Entrekin, Ethan Lindsey, Huntlee Pace, Avery Potts, Cole Wilsdorf

UT Chattanooga Scholarships: Cade Banks, Allison Jackson, Addison Johns, Avery Potts

UT Knoxville Scholarship: Hailey Bowen

Middle Tennesse State University Scholarships: Cade Banks, Cain Brewer, Austin Duncan, Hunter McMath

University of North Alabama Scholarships: Abagayle Brock, Calli Dye

Bethel University Scholarships: Christopher Diaz

Lipscomb University Scholarship: Garric Harrod

Freed Hardeman University Scholarship: Scott Mullinicks

Tennessee Tech Scholarships: Allison Jackson, Preston Pace

Columbia State Community College Scholarship: Rachel King

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Scholarship: Hailey Bowen

Geneva College Scholarships: Justin Nash

Soil Conservation ($1,500): Abigail Brewer

Eagle Scout Troop 322: Ryder Talley

Elephant Sanctuary Scholarships: Cade Banks, Zachary Benson, Abigail Brewer, Allison Jackson

SMTAR Scholarship ($1,000): Chanley Baker

Farm Bureau Scholarships: Zachary Benson, Abigail Brewer, Chanley Baker, Abagayle Brock, Caleb Carroll, Joseph Collie, Alyssa Grinder, Kaylie Hankins, Cole Humphreys, Allison Jackson, Rachel King, Scott Mullinicks, Avery Potts, Brent Reeves

Highland Oil Scholarships ($1,500): Emily Blackwood, Ethan Hamblin, Anna Feichtinger

Floyd Appraisal Works Scholarship ($500): Lathan Powers

People's Bank Wall of Fame Honorees: Chanley Baker, Austin Duncan, Calli Dye, Lathan Powers

People's Bank Wall of Fame Scholarship ($3,000): Avery Potts

CB&S Bank Scholarship ($500): Austin Duncan

Bank of Lewis County Scholarship ($500): Joseph Collie

Wayne County Bank Scholarships ($2,000/year for 4 years): Abagayle Brock, Calli Dye

Jack Diller Predators Foundation Scholarship: Calli Dye

Pilot Club of Hohenwald Scholarship ($500): Avery Potts

Education Foundation of Lewis County Scholarships ($500): Kaylie Hankins, Molly Whitehead

Barbara J. Hinson Honorary Scholarship ($1,000): Allison Jackson

LCHS Class of 1965 Memorial Scholarship ($1,000): Caleb Carroll

Pete Harris Memorial by Baxter Management Scholarships ($1,000): Chanley Baker, Abagayle Brock, Calli Dye, Addison Johns

Pete Harris Memorial by Baxter Management ($1,500): Avery Potts, Lathan Powers

Donald W. Schwendimann Memorial Scholarships ($1,250): Cade Banks, Jerika Long

Dorothy Turnbow Memorial Scholarships ($1,250): Abigail Brewer, Austin Duncan, Addison Johns

Craig Turnbow Memorial Scholarship ($5,000): Calli Dye

Chad Griner Memorial Scholarships ($500): Alyssa Grinder, Jerika Long

Howard Moore Memorial Scholarship ($500): Rachel King

Although this year's graduates may not have gotten a normal senior experience, they have gotten to experience the community's support in a more apparent way. From parading through town to scheduling prom at the court house in late June, Hohenwald's seniors know that they are loved.

Brock said it best in her speech, "We couldn't have made it through this difficult time without the support of our community, our school board, and the administration here at Lewis County High School."