Morgan County High School held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024 last Friday, with 224 graduating seniors celebrating in front of family and friends at Bill Corry Stadium in Madison.
MCHS Principal Dr. Miki Edwards also said goodbye to the graduating class and others as she heads into retirement with the school year over.
“We cannot wait to see where you’re headed and how you’re going to impact this world,” Edwards told the graduates. S
he also discussed how this year’s graduating class held a “24k gold” theme, mentioning that “24-karat gold is the purest form of that precious metal.”
“You shine bright as a class, but you are soft,” Edwards said. “You are ready to go out into the world, and you will be encountering this thing that they have already mentioned, called life, which will undoubtedly cause you some struggle.”
Still, she assured the graduates she has no doubt they will thrive in the future.
“When you go out with your eyes wide open and meet those struggles head-on, you will find that they will strengthen you and add to your durability,” Edwards continued. “The experiences that will make your goal stronger will be real. Make a conscious effort to invest your 24 hours (each day) wisely.”
As valedictorian of the graduating class, Shrey Patel delivered a speech to his classmates about their accomplishments.
“From primary school to now, there are memories that I will hold on to for the rest of my life,” Shrey said. “Through it all, we have grown. We have matured by learning from one another, and through our own mistakes along the way.”
He reminded his fellow graduates of the importance of choosing good paths in life.
“I’m sure you’ve heard this a thousand times, but whatever path you choose to walk on, make it something you can put your full soul into. I want you all to know that you are strong, stronger, and capable of more than you could ever know,” he said.
Shrey also discussed how the students’ education at MCHS helped them discover their “great joys, biggest dreams, and dislikes” while setting goals and taking varied paths to reach them.
To conclude, Shrey shared thoughts on why the graduates should continue to rely upon one another, reminding his classmates that none of their accomplishments would be possible alone.
“When we do succeed, we neglect to think about those who allowed us to be here,” Shrey said. “We are capable of doing so much more together than we are apart.”
Class of 2024 Salutatorian Chase Scherer then recalled his Morgan County High School experience and remarked on how quickly time had passed.
“Four years seemed like a lifetime until they were just over,” Chase observed. “Day by day, nothing seems to have changed, but looking back, everything is different.”
He also reminded his classmates they were all “witnesses to each other’s growth,” and said, “If that isn’t special, then I don’t know what is. High school is a time of making mistakes and learning lessons.”
Chase also credited the MCHS faculty and staff for helping the graduates to become who they are and believes they encouraged “respectfulness and Southern hospitality” in the students. “It carries a unique charm to our campus, which all of you can carry if you choose to.”
As the Class of 2024 forges ahead, Chase said he believes the respect students earned and learned at MCHS will serve them well and help others remember them as alumni and important parts of the community.
“I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a pretty good thing to remember,” he said. “Do not forget where you came from.”