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A group of 2021 Tygarts Valley High School graduates make their way to the bleachers at the start of the ceremony Thursday evening at Bulldog Field.
MILL CREEK -- The 68 members of Tygarts Valley High School's Class of 2021 graduated Thursday evening.
The event, which took place outdoors at Bulldog Field, began with all the graduates walking in a straight line from one of the school's side entrances to a section of the bleachers.
While anxiously waiting for their name to be called, the students listened to a host of speakers, including Principle Steve Wamsley, alumni guest speaker Don Judy (class of 1961) and Valedictorian Micah Allen.
Tracey Matthew, a future Yale student and a member of the 2021 graduating class at Tygarts Valley, also spoke during the ceremony, as did Salutatorians Brayden Bell and Joshua Bright.
Wamsley lauded all of the students, saying how proud he was of them for hanging in there and continuing to work hard during a global pandemic.
Allen spoke about all the challenges his class has faced..
"As I started looking back over our time here at Tygarts Valley, I realized our journey to the finish line was not a typical one," he said. "Our class had many different circumstances throughout our high school years that most graduates have not experienced.
"From two teacher strikes to a global pandemic, our class has seen it all. We can use these events as an excuse for not moving on with our goals or use it as a motivator. I believe these challenges have taught us many important skills. We have learned new study habits, ways to plan, function, overcome, and to always have some extra toilet paper on hand.
"As each of us have worked hard to achieve the goal of graduating, we all have someone who has worked equally as hard to get us to this point," Allen said. "For every person who is graduating here tonight, there are several who made the decision to put effort, time, patience and finances into helping you succeed. The African proverb is certainly true that 'It takes a village to raise a child.' We need to recognize all those people who have traveled this road to adulthood with us and thank them."
Jazmyn Teter gave the Invocation at the start of the evening, and Morgan Arbogast introduced the salutatorians and valedictorian. Metaya Teter gave the benediction.
The 2021 graduating class includes: Micah Allen, Lindsay Arbogast, Morgan Arbogast, Ryan Arbogast, Carly Ball, Clayton Ball, Brayden Bell, Brandon Bennett, Gunnar Bennett, Caden Boggs, Keegan Bolyard, Diavion Bostick, Josh Bright, Jordan Caltrider, Trevor Cassell, Faith Chewning, Zachariah Currence, Brier Daugherty, Cypress Daugherty, Jace Dean, David Defibaugh Jr., Ryan Defibaugh, Liam Depp, Sara Fincham, Cody Fortney, Dillan George, Ethan George, Hannah Haney, Finn Hatton, Andrew Holbrook, Christopher Jones, Madison Knight, Landon Kyle, Cindra Lanham, David Lanham, Emily Lanham, Nathan Lanham, Tyler Lanham, Sydney Lindsay, Courtney Louk, Autumn Martin, Tracey Matthew, Sommer McAtee, Gracie McCauley, Walker McCune, Amberlyn Mishoe, Aidan Row, Amber Sanders, Frankie Scott, Alexis Shiflett, Brennan Shiflett, Haven Shiflett, Claire Smith, Joshua Stanley, John Sutton Jr., Jace Swecker, Chloe Sycafoose, Daniel Taylor, Gavin Teter, Jazmyn Teter, Metaya Teter, Takoda Waddell, Anlyne Wamsley, Joseph Weese, Daniel White, Harley White, Chase Wildman and Tymara Williams.