Fernley class of 2019 celebrates graduation
Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter
The 204 members of the Fernley High School Class of 2019 caped their high school careers and took the first step in the next direction of their lives as they celebrated their graduation June 14.
The class included 71 graduates receiving advanced diplomas, 75 potential Millennium Scholarship recipients, three Magna Cum laude graduates, 37 Summa Cum Laude graduates and nine members of the National Honor Society.
Valedictorian Kennedy Lyon-Lindersmith congratulated the 204 students for all of their accomplishments, but said graduation and the end of their public school careers is merely where their lives begin.
Lyon-Lindersmith urged the students to be the best versions of themselves they can be, whether they will be working, performing community service, traveling the world, serving in the military, going to college or starting down some other path.
“The beauty of the world we live in is that none of these is the correct path,” she said. “Strive to inspire others and make a positive and lasting impact on the people around you. This is where our lives begin, so don’t be afraid to be different and to be you.”
Salutatorian Sabrina McCallum celebrated all the graduates have done by reminding them how much they have grown and changed, from elementary school, to middle school and through high school.
“We’ve been learning to change and adapt for years, sometimes in big ways and sometimes through little things,” she said. “Congratulations for making it this far and I sincerely wish you the best of luck on whatever path life leads you down. We will all wind up walking away from this field different people, but we will remember the memories we made together in the past four years of our lives.”
The ceremony ended on a touching note, as graduate Hunter Smith, who with his mother was involved in a serious car crash the day before, took to the podium to thank his family, friends and community for their support. Smith said his mother was still in the ICU.
“I’ll never be able to repay or be thankful enough for the support I’ve received from my family and this community, but I don’t think there’s a better community out there, and there’s not a better family out there,” Smith said.
