BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County High School bid a fond farewell to the accomplished Class of 2022 at its commencement Friday at Cardinal Stadium.
The commencement ceremony marked a journey completed and a new beginning for 107 seniors. The warm spring evening was a time to celebrate, reflect and be proud of the experience.
MCHS Principal Martha Williams spoke of how the COVID-19 pandemic split this class’s high school experience and praised the seniors for overcoming challenges.
“Class of 2022, I admire you for your perseverance, as you have adapted to challenging circumstances, attending school in person for only a few months during your sophomore and junior years,” Williams said. “I’m sure all of you have heard the story about passing a fencepost and seeing a turtle sitting on top. Obviously, he did not get there by himself. The same is true of all of you. I encourage you to hug your friends and loved ones and thank your teachers for helping each of you reach this milestone in your life. Congratulations to each of you on your accomplishments. I wish you nothing but success and happiness in your future endeavors.”
It was a time for a moment of silence for deceased classmates.
“Let them be with us on our special day,” senior Chase Moore said.
Williams recognized the “Top of the Class,” including Skyla Messer, Andrew Haney, Brittany Thompson, Isaiah Zuidema, Carmela Moore, Celeste Mills, Mary Salley, Anesa Blanton, Allicen Grayson, Hannah Rosensteel, Kaitlyn Gauze, Bobby Hale, Salutatorian Alyssa McCoy, Salutatorian Chloe Fields and Valedictorian Colin Horn.
During his valedictory address, Horn shared a story about his dog Buddy jumping over the fence, telling his classmates to take note of who they are and believe in themselves.
“I have seen some remarkable feats performed by some remarkable people in this class,” Horn said. “I personally believe that some of the finest people in the world live right here, right now, in Martin County, Kentucky. Be proud of your strong roots. Like Buddy, know your breed … because you are truly amazing.”
Horn said “fences” could also hold people back and keep them from unlocking their potential.
“We put them up ourselves, but they are often imposed on us by others,” he said. “As an Appalachian, I can say that I have felt ‘fenced in’ by this stereotype of who I am supposed to be. We are supposed to be unsuccessful, uneducated, poor hillbillies. Over time, it’s become easy to believe that.”
It wasn’t enough that Buddy knew who he was and believed in himself.
“He could have sat around for years knowing he could get out, but once he finally took that leap, he ran all the way to the end of the Earth as he knew it — the mouth of Turkey Creek. Sometimes, we need to take that leap. Once we believe in ourselves, it’s much easier,” said Horn.
“I speak for myself, those in the stands, and this entire community when I say that you are deserving of the absolute best and that we will never give up on you. So, do one better and never give up on yourself. Never settle for anything less than your worth, which is more than your weight in coal. Once we develop this success-oriented mindset, once we push past the labels and hindrances, our limits will be far beyond these mountaintops. …Once we know our breed, take that leap, and keep running in order to jump over our own fences, our achievements will know no bounds.”
Horn is the son of Jimmy and Mary Lynn Horn.
Recently named a National Merit Scholarship winner, Horn will attend the University of Kentucky and major in mechanical engineering. He hopes to follow that with a master’s in business administration.
Fields, who plans to attend the University of Kentucky, major in biology, and apply to UK’s physician assistant program, called her senior year “the best year of high school yet.”
“We’ve been through so much together — from playing on the playground at Inez Elementary with my classmates who are still my best friends to this day to making new friends in middle school who I got the pleasure of spending my high school years with,” Fields said during her salutatorian speech. “From cockroaches taking over our school freshman year to sophomore and junior years being overshadowed by COVID, to finally persevering to our senior year.”
Fields is the daughter of Kevin Fields and Amanda Branham Fields.
“I love you all,” she said told her classmates.
McCoy, in her salutatorian speech, spoke of how the loss of the former Sheldon Clark High School campus plus the recent COVID pandemic affected her class’s high school years.
“I sometimes wonder how we made it this far, but I am so glad we finally did,” McCoy said.
The Class of 2022 started as freshmen in the former Inez Middle School building, which McCoy described as “a little school that really wasn’t meant to be a high school.”
“Let me just tell you that in that building, we had some interesting experiences, but I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world,” said McCoy. “As we moved on to sophomores, we were blessed with a brand-new facility that has been our home for the last three years. I wish that we had gotten our full time in this beautiful building. COVID took that away from us, but through it, we persevered and came out as the strong, resilient people that we are. I am so proud of each and every one of you sitting here today. I know the future is very bright for the Class of 2022.”
McCoy is the daughter of James and Crystal McCoy and will study nursing at the University of Pikeville.
Martin County Area Technology Center Principal Chad Williams praised his students’ accomplishments, noting that 55 seniors earned certifications throughout their four years at the ATC.
Billy Strickland completed all 10 certifications in auto and was a third-place finisher in Skillz USA at the state tournament. Nick Waller and Dakota Jude tied for 14 certifications earned in their career. The previous record was 11. Both earned 14 this year, which Williams tabbed “an all-time school record.” Grace Runyon coordinated the making and selling of 200 t-shirts for the business program and FBLA. ATC students completed a tiny house project from October to April, and the tiny house is for sale for $60,000.
“There are a lot of great things happening in our school this year and a lot more great things to come,” Chad Williams said. “Thank you, Class of 2022, for making this a record-breaking year, and good luck to future success.”
MCHS guidance counselor Michelle Harless recognized both Horn and Bobby Hale for being National Merit Scholarship finalists.
Seniors Kaylee Harless, Hannah Muncy and Grayson recognized members of various teams, clubs and organizations.