Freedom grads ready for their futures

Ian Hemphill gets a congratulatory hug from school board member Buddy Armour on Friday night at Freedom High Schools graduations.

MORGANTON Donning white caps and gowns, a sea of young adults marched into Patriot Nation as seniors and out as graduates on Friday night as Freedom High School handed out 236 diplomas.

It was an evening filled with emotions, from proud parents cheering and snapping photos, to happy graduates taking center stage, to snickers as Principal Ken Prichard read Dr. Seuss Oh The Places Youll Go, to tears remembering two classmates who died too soon.

It also was a night of encouragement from members of student government, the salutatorian and valedictorian and Prichard.

In his speech, Marcus Kincaid, SGA president, talked about what makes Freedom unique and encouraged fellow graduates to take life by storm.

Patriots do it differently, and we do it better, he said. We never wasted any time trying to become something we arent.

Salutatorian Stephanie Norman, who finished her high school career with a 4.71 GPA, charged her classmates to make the world a better place.

Our lives are full of endless possibilities, she said, encouraging fellow graduates not to look back in 20 years and have regrets and not be afraid of failure.

Valedictorian Melissa Pressley, who finished with a 5.0 GPA, urged classmates to find that unique dream and pursue it whole heartedly no matter what others may say.

After recognizing Anah Phillips for perfect school attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade, Prichard asked senior Ben Lee to accept Alex Burlesons diploma on behalf of Burlesons parents. Burleson was killed in an off-road truck incident during spring break.

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Freedom grads ready for their futures