After senior Emily Tackett gave the invocation, TVHS principal Steve Wamsley spoke first to the large gathering in attendance and introduced the alumni guest speaker of the event, class of 1991 graduate Jeremy Belidina, who went on to graduate from Princeton University in 1995 with a bachelor degree in science and engineering.

“I’m here tonight to help send you all off into this next, possibly uncertain, but definitely exciting phase of your lives,” said Belidina. “Thirty one years ago, I was sitting right there where you are tonight. TVHS to Princeton, to D.C., to New York, to Silicon Valley, to Pittsburgh, and everywhere in between. And here I am tonight telling you that you can do this.

“Thirty one years ago I was sitting there next to a great friend of mine who graduated from WVU and now works for NASA. You can do this. Your family, teachers, and friends have prepared you in the best ways for what’s to come.”

Belidina’s first job out of college was working at a research and development center in Washington D.C. where he helped build models and simulations for the Department of Defense and the CIA. He also worked on Wall Street building software applications for financial traders and has spent the last 12 years working for Google.

Co-Valedictorian Abigail Cabaniss receives her diploma from Tygarts Valley High School Principal Steve Wamsley during the 99th annual commencement ceremony Thursday at Bulldog Field.

Senior Landrie Lanham introduced Salutatorian Brenlyn Swecker, while senior Veronica Brown introduced Co-Valedictorians Abigail Cabaniss and Haleigh Wilfong. Swecker, Cabaniss and Wilfong all addressed their classmates and those in attendance. James Liggett gave the Benediction.

“I would really like to thank our parents, because without them none of us would be here,” said Cabaniss. “I’m very grateful to my mom and dad for being with me every step of the way. And I would like to thank our teachers too, because they have had to deal with us all the way back to sixth grade. I would also like to thank our coaches throughout the years for pushing us to be our best. It’s been an honor going to school here and being a part of this community. We will always be Bulldogs no matter where life takes us.”

This year’s graduates included: Makala Nicole Adams, Adam Richard Andrews, Eithen K Arbogast, Whitney Dawn Arbogast, Noah Bryce Armstrong, David Ricardo Avalos, Terrance James Bailey, Auston Charles Brenwalt, Jared Keith Brown, Veronica Morgan Brown, Abigail Grace Cabaniss, Kennedy Grace Carr, Sierra Rene Chancellor, Brett Michael Coberly, Karissa Marie Currence, Kendal Rae Cutright, Collin Smoke Daniels, Rachel Davis, Aaron Ray Eagle, Katelyn Michelle Fike, Autumn Sue Finlen, Cash Everett Fox, Maria Dawn George, Garrett William Gibson, Dalton Connor Goode, Madison Dylaney Grimes, Abby Lynn Grimmett, Ally Marie Grimmett, Michael Cornell Haderman, Tatayanna Monique Hammonds, Paden Heath Haney, Vanessa Simone Harner, Blake Edward Hinchman, Hunter Miller Howell, Tristan James Kirk, James David Knotts, Willie Matthew Lambert, Landrie Elizabeth Lanham, Xavier Storm Lanham, Nikolas James Levenson, James Robert Liggett, Sebastian Drayke Lindsay, Courtney Brooke Louk, Brandon Nathaniel Mahoney, Breanna Nichole Mahoney, Ian James Maxwell, Haylee McLaughlin, Kaden Walker Nelson, Corey Tyler Parsons, Kaiden Lee Pinkerton, Matthew Scott Pratt, Dillon Wayne Scott, Riley Rachell Scott, Devan Scritchfield, Andrew Vincent Serrett, Aisha Lannae Sharp, Ada Maria Snyder, Brenlyn Ann Swecker, Caden Russell Swecker, Patrick Dalton Swecker, Emily Rana Tackett, Riley James Tackett, Madyson Ashay Taylor, Shaun Micheal Taylor, Haleigh Ann Wilfong and Kylee Madison Winans.