By Echo Menges
The Knox County High School Graduation Ceremony was held indoors and in-person on Sunday afternoon, May 23, 2021. Thirty Class of 2021 graduates took to the stage for a nearly completely traditional graduation ceremony – after the pandemic disrupted last years event.
Each graduate was given ten tickets for family and friends to attend in-person.
Graduates entered the gymnasium donning black caps and gowns filing into the room on either side of the gymnasium to the song “Pomp and Circumstance”.
The KCR-1 School Board oversaw the ceremony from the stage and introductions were made by KCR-1 Superintendent Andy Turgeon.
High School/Middle School Principal Alex VanDelft presented the honors to Valedictorian Matthew Carlson and Salutatorian Elliott Ogden.
Featured speakers during the event were Senior Class President Kaitlin Campbell, KCHS Alumni Amy Gudehus and Senior Speaker Matthew Carlson.
A video presentation was also shown featuring photos of the graduates, including baby and current photos of each one.
Musical performances were given by the KCHS Choir singing “Seasons of Love” under the direction of Music Teacher Lisa Blake and graduate Kylee Woods sang “I’ll Always Remember You”.
The Senior Class colors were red, black and silver and the Class Flower was a rose. The chosen motto for the class was, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts,” by Winston Churchill.
The Senior Class Sponsors, who oversaw the details of all things “graduation” this year were HS/MS Principal and Activities Director Keith Gudehus and Guidance Counselor Taylar Parrish.
