Junction City High School seniors received their diplomas Sunday.
Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions there were two commencement ceremonies at JCHS this year. One involved students with the last name beginning with the letters A through K and another involving those with the last name beginning with the letters L through Z.
Elyse Nguyen, Valedictorian, noted that rather than focusing on the cons of the pandemic era they should focus on what the class has accomplished. "Because you completely deserve all the congratulations and praise that you are about to receive. "
Nguyen reminded her classmates that the next chapter in life is a brand new start and they all have equal opportunity to achieve whatever they want. "Do not let your grades define you. For what we definitely have been taught so much in the classroom, the most important knowledge came from just what we learned in day to day life." Nguyen added that they learned how to find normalcy during a time ( pandemic ) that was anything but. "So while the lessons we learned from our amazing teachers will surely help us in the future it is my belief that the most important lesson of all was how to persevere." Nguyen added that will guide the class through obstacles in the future.
Other speakers ranged from Class President Dylan Haden and JCHS Principal Merrier Jackson-Tartt to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Eggleston, Teacher Tyrek Artley and Board of Education President Dr. Anwar Khoury.
According to the commencement program 281 seniors received diplomas. The commencement ceremonies were held indoors in the Shenk Gym.