Bruton: ‘We have beaten the odds’

Leak Street High School Principal Susan Brigman tells students to
‘have the courage to follow your heart and do the right thing’

Special to The Pee Dee Post

ROCKINGHAM — For the class of 2014 at Leak Street High School, June 12 was hard-fought and long-anticipated. Forty-seven students turned their tassels Thursday night, all looking forward to their future plans of four year degrees, two year degrees, promising careers and military service.

Photo courtesy Richmond County Schools LaSummer Bruton, class valedictorian

Photo courtesy Richmond County Schools
LaSummer Bruton, class valedictorian

Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Thomas Capel gave the commencement address at Kate Finley Auditorium in Rockingham. Capel is a native of Ellerbe and served in the Army for more than 30 years in many different capacities. Capel encouraged students on Thursday to make the right choices as they enter into a new stage of their lives.

Students and parents at Leak Street High echoed sentiments shared by Capel. LaSummer Bruton, class valedictorian, expressed her excitement as she prepares to embark on her future.

“We have all faced stepping stones and will continue to even after we leave here today,” Bruton said. “I must say, being a teen mom and going to school is very difficult. It has been a challenge for me, and I missed days of school because of my responsibilities as a mother. Meanwhile, I have watched my classmates face many of their own challenges. One obstacle we all share is overcoming the negativity of people believing we would not make it to this day. Well — guess what? — on this 12th day of June, we have beaten the odds and proven them wrong.”

During the course of the evening, Bruton was awarded with the Lillian Sherrill Memorial Scholarship, the Leak Street Alumni Scholarship, the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, the Eckerd Adolescent Parenting Program award and the President’s Award.

Also receiving the President’s Award were seniors Christen Bloomfield (salutatorian), Desmond Gould and Lisa Wayne.

Leak Street High School’s Class of 2014 reflected on a number of events within the past few years—including a slideshow created by teacher Chad Osborne. The school also recognized senior Quanterus Collins, who was affectionately nicknamed “Mr. Leak Street.”

Photo courtesy Richmond County Schools CSM Thomas Capel (Retired)

Photo courtesy Richmond County Schools
CSM Thomas Capel (Retired)

Chief Operations Officer Daryl Mason and Tina McNeil addressed the Class of 2014 in their final moments as seniors.

“Although these students are graduating, this is not the time to abandon them,” Mason said to the parents who cheered in the audience. “They still need us.”

Principal Susan Brigman noted that high school represents happiness, a sense of pride and accomplishment amongst children and their families. For many of the students, Leak Street High School represents a unique second chance.

“You always have a choice,” Brigman said to seniors. “You can choose to let the noise of your peers’ opinions drown out your inner voice, or you can have the courage to follow your heart and do the right thing.”

Filed in: Latest Headlines

You might like:

M. Bishop sinks putt for Mixed Division playoff win M. Bishop sinks putt for Mixed Division playoff win
Von Hagel wins drawing for Pixel Von Hagel wins drawing for Pixel
Application period open for club sponsorship Application period open for club sponsorship
S. Farris wins Player of the Year S. Farris wins Player of the Year
© 2024 AlleganyPlayground.com. All rights reserved. XHTML / CSS Valid.