News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County School System is full of excitement as the year winds down and graduation ceremonies begin.
Director of Schools Corby King said graduation is a huge milestone for all students, not just in Putnam County. He said students have worked for the past 10 to 12 years of their lives to get to this point.
“It kind of signifies that they’re becoming n adult, they’re moving out on their own so there’s some nervous anticipation about that among our students,” King said. “But also this is the recognition of that milestone of ‘Hey we’re here, we’ve made it, and we’re ready for that next chapter.'”
King said there is an overall sense of pride districtwide. He said this is especially true for the three valedictorians: Upperman High’s Madelyn Myhre, Monterey High’s Dixie Elrod, and Cookeville High’s Quentin Ding.
King said becoming a valedictorian is not something you decide your junior or senior year. He said these students took the extra time from freshman to senior year to put towards their academic efforts.
“A little extra time, a little extra motivation, so many of these students have sacrificed time with their friends the time they could be doing other activities, to focus on academics,” King said. “So to recognize that achievement for them, they accomplished the goal they set.”
King said as the director, a former administrator, a former teacher, and a parent of PCSS students, he cannot express how proud he is of these students. He said it is exciting watching students grow up from the time they enter the system in kindergarten and learn to read to graduation time when they decide what to do next.
“Choosing their path, choosing this is what they want to do to be a good citizen to be a better part of the community to better themselves, their families, their situations, there’s such a sense of pride,” King said. “Because we’re there with the students during the success, but we’re also there during the struggle. So to see them walk across that stage, that’s a huge accomplishment and I wear that as a source of pride.”
VITAL’s graduation will be 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18th at the EDGE on Life Church’s campus. Upperman High School seniors will graduate on Friday, May 19th at 6 p.m. at the Hooper Eblen Center.
Also at the Hoop, Cookeville High School’s graduation will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20th. Monterey High School seniors will graduate Saturday, May 20th at 4 p.m. in MHS’ gymnasium.
