News on the Neck: Class of 2022

12 • Class of 2022 The Class of 2022, all 118 of them, stepped onto the Eagle football field and made history by becoming the last graduating class fromWashington & Lee High School. They were cheered on by a rambunc- tious crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends. When W&L principal, Roger Coleman, asked for a show of hands from former gradu- ates in the crowd, dozens of hands were raised to cheers. For many new graduates this was a stepping stone to another school, a college or proprietary school to learn a new skill or trade. For others, it will be a military stay or beginning a new job. But for all of them, this was a bit- tersweet moment in time. They were the last graduating class of Washington & Lee High School. They were now in the history books. During the ceremony, comments were made about the challenges of complet- ing high school during a pandemic. The honor graduates who spoke, Synphony Lovelace and Amaya Warner both talked about how hard virtual learning could be and how isolating the pandemic was. They both cited their parents and God for getting them through. Three other honor scholars were featured in the pro- gram. Conner Benson led the Pledge of Allegiance while Gabrielle Brown and Lindsey Ristau led the turning of the tassels. As students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, their individ- ualism showed. Some danced across the stage. Some took time to strike a pose, and others looked a bit nervous. Collectively, they appeared excited and proud to reach this important milestone. Roger Coleman, principal, Dr. Michael Perry, superintendent and Ralph Fallin, school board chair, had the privi- lege of presenting the diplomas. This class established and maintained friendships via Zoom and FaceTime as a way of life. Once together again for in-person instruction, those friendships continued to grow. Students’ support for their fellowgraduates was exemplified throughout the ceremony, perhaps most notably when the class stood as one and cheered on the final graduate to cross the stage, Matthew Yoshida. After all the tassels were turned, and Coleman and Perry declared them gradu- ates, the new graduates strode through the cheering throngs of parents, past graduates, balloons, flowers and friends before heading off to their new adven- tures. Class of 2022 makes history as the last Washington & Lee Graduates W&L principal, Roger Coleman, and the last W&L student speakers, Conner Benson, Amaya Warner, and Synphony Lovelace. BY PATTY KELLY LONG Photo by Patty Kely Long Piper Trommater Ki’Asiah Turner Richard Vargas Amaya Warner Brandon Washington Keynyia Washington Jeremy Taylor Tresure Tate Matthew Yoshida Macario Willis Katelyn Whittington WASHINGTON & LEE HIGH SCHOOL