WEBB — West Tallahatchie High School’s 2023 commencement exercises will begin Saturday morning at 10 in the school auditorium.
WTHS has announced 36 candidates for graduation.
Each senior has been allowed to invite 15 guests of their choosing to share in the momentous occasion.
Face coverings are required for everyone attending.
Saturday’s festivities will begin with the processional featuring the familiar strains of the graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” after which opening prayer will be offered by the Rev. Anthony Hawkins.
Senior Kimmiaya Hudson will extend the official welcome.
Valedictorian Tony Young Jr., the son of Tony and Tammy Young Sr. of Clarksdale, will offer class reflections.
Salutatorian Aniya Lewis, the daughter of Sharon Chapple and Anthony Thomas, both of Webb, will introduce the guest speaker, Brian Washington.
Washington, 1990 graduate of West Tallahatchie High School, holds a master’s degree in computer science from Jackson State University. A Webb native now living in Jackson, he is the founder and CEO of B Wash INC, a marketing, promotions and management firm; and the CEO of BEW Construction, a real estate company specializing in home remodeling, wholesaling and management.
Presentation of the graduating class will be conducted by WTHS Principal Shirlaurence D. Fair, and acceptance of the class will be by West Tallahatchie School District Superintendent Dr. Sherry Ellington.
One of the senior sponsors, John Fredericks, will begin the roll call of the names of those who are candidates for graduation.
Candidates will come forward, receive diplomas and be congratulated by Ellington, Fair and WTSD Board of Trustees President Marvin George.
Rev. Hawkins will close the program by offering the benediction, after which newly-credentialed graduates will file out of the auditorium during the recessional, again to the melody of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
WTHS has 14 honor graduates. In addition to Kimmiaya Hudson, Tony Young Jr. and Aniya Lewis, others include Christoyonia Harrison, Jadjiah Hudson, Denecia Jackson, Ja’Myra Johnson, Katilyn Mackey, Shaniya Miller, Demarcus Montgomery, Charkyra Robinson, Ta’Shaaria Thomas, Adrianequa Wilchie and Brooklynn Williams.
The senior class motto is a statement by World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
The class colors are orange and white, the class flower is the orange rose and the class song is “The Climb,” recorded by Miley Cyrus.
