UCHS graduating Class of 2023
June 7, 2023 at 7:17 p.m.
The 2023 graduating class at Union County High School marks a milestone in the school’s history.
Eighty-two class members received Union County High School diplomas on the football field at the 50th Union County High School Commencement Exercise on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
“Welcome to this momentous occasion. It is with great joy and pride that I stand before you today as we celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance,” Principal Warren Cook said. “First and foremost, congratulations to each and every one of you. This day marks a significant milestone in our lives, a moment of transition from one chapter to another.”
“As we step into the world beyond these walls, let us embrace the future with open hearts and open minds. It is our duty to use our education to make a difference and contribute to the betterment of society. Graduation is not just an end; it is a beginning.”
Speaker after speaker acknowledged those who assisted them throughout their school careers.
Mixing in a little humor in introducing his best friend and Salutatorian Aaron Herring, Michael Eversole began...
“Over the years I’ve gotten to know Aaron pretty well and I believe everyone is born with one unique gift, something that nobody else has. Aaron’s gift is that he is excellent in telling people that they are wrong,” Michael Eversole began. “No, I am just kidding. Aaron’s gift is that he is the smartest guy I have ever met. I could bring up any topic, and Aaron would already know more about it than I, and if he didn’t, he would the next day. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Herring got right to the point...“So it begins, not with a blaze of glory, or the pain of defeat, but with the roar of a thousand hands, celebrating– celebrating the beginning of the end of the rest of our lives, Now more than ever our choices have consequences, our failures, punishment, but our victories, reward. Each and every one of us will now have freedom, freedom chase our wildest dreams. Freedom to fail; Freedom to grow; a freedom to get lost in the vastness of life.”
Carly McCashland and Brooke Fields have been best friends since they were six months old so it was fitting one should introduce the other.
“We did everything together from elementary school to middle school and high school.” Carly said. ‘Everyone always said “you’ll lose friends and find new ones,’ but one friendship that never faltered was the one I have with her. Please help me welcome the Class of 2023 Valedictorian, Miss Brooke Fields.”
Brooke found writing her speech difficult so she turned to her peers to find out what they learned about themselves throughout the last four years.
“Many said to be yourself and don’t be afraid of failure,” she began. “If I were to tell you the most important thing I took away from my time at Union County High School it would be to give yourself grace. I spent so much time being hard on myself and expecting perfection; I even wrote this speech 10 times trying to be perfect. It took me 18 years to realize I was striving for something that was unattainable.”
Then it was the time everyone was waiting for – the distribution of Union County High School diplomas. The I-STAR teachers read the names and Principal Cook shook hands with each graduate, put the diploma in their hands and posed for a picture.
“Thank you everyone for coming to the Class of 2023’s graduation. We are the 50th class to graduate from Union County High School,” class vice president Joshua Klein began. “I would like to thank our principal, Mr. Cook, for making our senior year enjoyable. I would also like to thank Mrs. Barnhizer for making English a lot of fun. We have many phenomenal young adults in this class who will do great things in life. Good luck everyone.”
Suddenly all that remained was the turning of tassels and the long-awaited final dismissal. Turning tassel leaders, Libby Page and Peyton Torres-Cruz rushed to the stage and on cue tassels were turned, applause began and hats began filling the sky. The tossing of hats signaled the last thing before the procession to greet family and friends. The applause began as grads tossed their hats in the air and the final procession this Class of 2023 would take together!!
UCHS 2023 Graduates
Izzy Bartos, Ashley Nichole Brooks, Christopher Keith Bryant, Kaley Burdett, Eric Matthew Burdine, Randy J. Capps, Mackeylee Joy Carmack, Alex Patrick Carter, Adrrienne Gail Caudill, Colby Michael Charles, Emma Nicole Cobb, Hannah Grace Coffman, Jayden Breanna Marie Cunningham, Dylan Matthew Doyle, Elessa Grace Drake, Ty Jeremy Elleman, Nathan Thomas Engeman, Alyssa Breann Evans, Michael Reed Eversole.
Brooke Morgan Fields, Lillian Grace Fields, Mykenzie Renee Fields, Kaitlyn Nicole Flowers, Taegan Joel Fulton, Sierra Lynn Garrett, William Ari Gonyer, Daniel James Griffee, Cecelia Grace Groen, Maggie Hall, Xavier Robert Harrison, Haley May Hensley, Aaron John Herring, Bradley Erik Hilbmann, Abigail Delsie Hill, Shelby Denise Hill, Jack Kelly Hodgkin, Christopher Rhett Hollen, Emily Autumn Hoskins, Keilynn Rhyan Jones, Emma Kathleen Kassens, Joshua Lee Klein, Kathryn Lorraine Lewis, Alexander Brook Logue, Ethan Louden, Destiny Grace Lowe, Bryleigh Dawne Lykins, Carly Dale McCashland, Bradley Aaron Meadows, Hallie Renee Moster, Lillyin May Murray, Johannah Devins Nelson, Libby Page, Delivia Sue Patterson, Autumn Rose Peck, Maura Ann Pegg, Lyllian Rebecca Pentecost, Elyse Kristine Peters, Noah Houston Lee Phillips, Ethan Duff Powers, Olivia Ann Marie Russell, Ryland Schulte, Korban M. Schutt, Devyn Anthony Shepherd, Amber Renee Soper, Jordan Chosei Takara, Hailey Jane Tidwell, Gage Michael Tipton, Jayden Ray Tipton, Jayden Ray Tipton, Michaela Hope Tolford, Benmamin David Tom, Peyton Torres Cruz, Breanna Nicole Ven De Wouwer, Hanna Marie Vaughn, Brooklyn Marie Vauthier, Jack Alan Whipple, Marek James Whitsell, Jack Ryan Winter, Evan Michael Wolf, Matthew David Wooley, Alexis Annabella Wyatt, Marissa Kay Young.
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The 2023 graduating class at Union County High School marks a milestone in the school’s history.
Eighty-two class members received Union County High School diplomas on the football field at the 50th Union County High School Commencement Exercise on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
“Welcome to this momentous occasion. It is with great joy and pride that I stand before you today as we celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance,” Principal Warren Cook said. “First and foremost, congratulations to each and every one of you. This day marks a significant milestone in our lives, a moment of transition from one chapter to another.”
“As we step into the world beyond these walls, let us embrace the future with open hearts and open minds. It is our duty to use our education to make a difference and contribute to the betterment of society. Graduation is not just an end; it is a beginning.”
Speaker after speaker acknowledged those who assisted them throughout their school careers.
Mixing in a little humor in introducing his best friend and Salutatorian Aaron Herring, Michael Eversole began...
“Over the years I’ve gotten to know Aaron pretty well and I believe everyone is born with one unique gift, something that nobody else has. Aaron’s gift is that he is excellent in telling people that they are wrong,” Michael Eversole began. “No, I am just kidding. Aaron’s gift is that he is the smartest guy I have ever met. I could bring up any topic, and Aaron would already know more about it than I, and if he didn’t, he would the next day. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Herring got right to the point...“So it begins, not with a blaze of glory, or the pain of defeat, but with the roar of a thousand hands, celebrating– celebrating the beginning of the end of the rest of our lives, Now more than ever our choices have consequences, our failures, punishment, but our victories, reward. Each and every one of us will now have freedom, freedom chase our wildest dreams. Freedom to fail; Freedom to grow; a freedom to get lost in the vastness of life.”
Carly McCashland and Brooke Fields have been best friends since they were six months old so it was fitting one should introduce the other.
“We did everything together from elementary school to middle school and high school.” Carly said. ‘Everyone always said “you’ll lose friends and find new ones,’ but one friendship that never faltered was the one I have with her. Please help me welcome the Class of 2023 Valedictorian, Miss Brooke Fields.”
Brooke found writing her speech difficult so she turned to her peers to find out what they learned about themselves throughout the last four years.
“Many said to be yourself and don’t be afraid of failure,” she began. “If I were to tell you the most important thing I took away from my time at Union County High School it would be to give yourself grace. I spent so much time being hard on myself and expecting perfection; I even wrote this speech 10 times trying to be perfect. It took me 18 years to realize I was striving for something that was unattainable.”
Then it was the time everyone was waiting for – the distribution of Union County High School diplomas. The I-STAR teachers read the names and Principal Cook shook hands with each graduate, put the diploma in their hands and posed for a picture.
“Thank you everyone for coming to the Class of 2023’s graduation. We are the 50th class to graduate from Union County High School,” class vice president Joshua Klein began. “I would like to thank our principal, Mr. Cook, for making our senior year enjoyable. I would also like to thank Mrs. Barnhizer for making English a lot of fun. We have many phenomenal young adults in this class who will do great things in life. Good luck everyone.”
Suddenly all that remained was the turning of tassels and the long-awaited final dismissal. Turning tassel leaders, Libby Page and Peyton Torres-Cruz rushed to the stage and on cue tassels were turned, applause began and hats began filling the sky. The tossing of hats signaled the last thing before the procession to greet family and friends. The applause began as grads tossed their hats in the air and the final procession this Class of 2023 would take together!!
UCHS 2023 Graduates
Izzy Bartos, Ashley Nichole Brooks, Christopher Keith Bryant, Kaley Burdett, Eric Matthew Burdine, Randy J. Capps, Mackeylee Joy Carmack, Alex Patrick Carter, Adrrienne Gail Caudill, Colby Michael Charles, Emma Nicole Cobb, Hannah Grace Coffman, Jayden Breanna Marie Cunningham, Dylan Matthew Doyle, Elessa Grace Drake, Ty Jeremy Elleman, Nathan Thomas Engeman, Alyssa Breann Evans, Michael Reed Eversole.
Brooke Morgan Fields, Lillian Grace Fields, Mykenzie Renee Fields, Kaitlyn Nicole Flowers, Taegan Joel Fulton, Sierra Lynn Garrett, William Ari Gonyer, Daniel James Griffee, Cecelia Grace Groen, Maggie Hall, Xavier Robert Harrison, Haley May Hensley, Aaron John Herring, Bradley Erik Hilbmann, Abigail Delsie Hill, Shelby Denise Hill, Jack Kelly Hodgkin, Christopher Rhett Hollen, Emily Autumn Hoskins, Keilynn Rhyan Jones, Emma Kathleen Kassens, Joshua Lee Klein, Kathryn Lorraine Lewis, Alexander Brook Logue, Ethan Louden, Destiny Grace Lowe, Bryleigh Dawne Lykins, Carly Dale McCashland, Bradley Aaron Meadows, Hallie Renee Moster, Lillyin May Murray, Johannah Devins Nelson, Libby Page, Delivia Sue Patterson, Autumn Rose Peck, Maura Ann Pegg, Lyllian Rebecca Pentecost, Elyse Kristine Peters, Noah Houston Lee Phillips, Ethan Duff Powers, Olivia Ann Marie Russell, Ryland Schulte, Korban M. Schutt, Devyn Anthony Shepherd, Amber Renee Soper, Jordan Chosei Takara, Hailey Jane Tidwell, Gage Michael Tipton, Jayden Ray Tipton, Jayden Ray Tipton, Michaela Hope Tolford, Benmamin David Tom, Peyton Torres Cruz, Breanna Nicole Ven De Wouwer, Hanna Marie Vaughn, Brooklyn Marie Vauthier, Jack Alan Whipple, Marek James Whitsell, Jack Ryan Winter, Evan Michael Wolf, Matthew David Wooley, Alexis Annabella Wyatt, Marissa Kay Young.