DCHS Graduates Celebrate a Milestone and Mourn a Loss (View Videos Here)

May 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Celebrating a milestone and mourning a loss!

The 147 members of the DCHS Class of 2021 graduated Friday night completing their high school years by receiving diplomas for which they have worked so hard. But while hearts overflowed with joy, many are still grieving the loss of a classmate, Cassie Maxwell, who would have been part of the commencement had she not been taken in a tragic traffic accident almost six weeks ago.

As she began her address, Valedictorian and Class President Carly Vance called for a moment of silence in honor of Maxwell and during the program there was one vacant chair with only a framed photo of Cassie in the place where she would have sat among her classmates on the football field. And during the awarding of diplomas, black and gold balloons were released when Cassie’s name was called.

Principal Randy Jennings also paid tribute to Maxwell during his remarks to the class.

“It is with great sadness that we celebrate tonight without one of our classmates. Cassie was an excellent student and an even better person and she will be missed,” said Jennings.

Meanwhile. three members of the class were singled out for special recognition during the commencement. This year’s White Rose Awards went to Jasper Kleparek and Carly Vance and the Citizenship Award was presented to Levi Driver.

The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the senior class with strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community and exemplary moral character.

The Citizenship Award is given to a student in the senior class who exemplifies strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community.

The honors, distinction, top rank, and service students were also recognized during the program.

The graduates then formed a line and one by one filed past the podium to receive their diplomas, each one shaking hands and posing for pictures with Principal Randy Jennings as their names were called. For Jennings and Assistant Principal David Gash, this was their last DCHS high school graduation. Jennings is leaving DCHS but will further his education career elsewhere while Gash is retiring.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps thanked both Jennings and Gash for their service.

“I want to thank them for their leadership and dedication to our community. I got to work with these guys for two decades. They are more than co-workers. They are my friends and they will be sorely missed,” said Director Cripps.

Cripps then asked the audience to give both Jennings and Gash a round of applause.

As Jennings said goodbye to the class, he remembered the four years he spent with them at DCHS and three years before that when he was principal at DeKalb Middle School.

“For most of you guys, we spent the last seven years together. I saw you come into the middle school as little sixth graders and now you are graduating as young men and women. I am privileged to have been part of your lives for the last seven years “, said Jennings.

“Your senior year has been very unique. You have been through a lot of different things including remote learning and all that went with that but you have persevered and through all the difficult times, you have reached tonight,” said Jennings

In her address to the Class, Valedictorian Vance spoke of a Spanish explorer who once arrived at a foreign land but found that the men who accompanied him were more content to remain on the ships rather than set out on the exploration. One day the explorer ordered all the men off the ships and commanded his generals to set fire to the ships saying we must go forth and see what the land has in store for us.

As with the Spanish explorer, Vance admonished her classmates to “burn their ships” by putting the pain and mistakes of their past behind them and explore new horizons.

“Now is the time to burn the ships. The past is gone, but the present is a gift. It is time to chart a new course, to recalculate our positions and start a new journey. You must be brave enough to take the first step and never look back. So light a match, leave the past, and burn the ships,” said Vance.

Quoting one of her teachers, Vance closed by saying “Good luck, go at ‘em, be careful, but, while you’re at it, since you’re at it, have fun”.

The commencement featured the processional and recessional by the DCHS Band, Invocation by FCA member Jasper Kleparek, the DCHS Choir and Music Theater Classes accompanied by Caleb Wood and Joshua Gulley performing the songs “You’ve Got a Friend” and “I Lived”, and the benediction by FCA member Megan Cantrell.

Members of the DCHS Class of 2021:

Briona Alysse Agee, Presley Suzanne Agee, Axel Ronaldo Aldino Arvizu, Trevonte Jaquan Alexander, Alejandra Sofia Amaya, Nikolas Joe Anderson, Bailey Renee Ashford, Alexis Grace Atnip, Peyton Michael Atnip, Savannah Atnip, Meredith Faith Averitte

Katie Elizabeth Bain, Saxon DeWayne Bain, Brian A. Balderas, Logan Kade Barnes, Talon Kendall Billings, Scottie Layne Blackwell, Hailey Ray Bogle, Jordan Dione Boniol, Kaileigh Marie Brandon,  Johnathon Ray Brock, Spencer Lee Buchanan, Keith Buck, Andrew William Burklow, Courtney Paige Byford

Mont’e James Caldwell, Levi Autry Cantrell, Megan Emilee Cantrell, Joshua Garrett Claiborne, Morgan Shayanne Clark, Kobbe Braden Clary, Brandon Patrick Cline, Joshua Kyle Cook, Craig Evan Cooper, James Muralla Copeland, Nicholas Tyler Cothern, Christopher Matthew Cowan, Kyndal Nicole Cox, Ellisyn Kelsey Cripps, Jordan Shane Crook, Alexis Catherine Cudney, Aidan Edward Curtis

Nathaniel James Dace, Lydia Grace Davenport, Leah Brooke Davis, Paxton Chaise Dawson, Levi Katon Driver, Sadie Maren Driver,

Lynsey Nicole Ellis, Haley Jade Ervin, Katie Lynn Ervin

Charles Joseph Ford, Skylar McKinlee Fuson

Audrey Nichole Gillenwater, Alysah Jean Glass, Grace Elizabeth Griffin, Dasia Rayne Gurley

Wesley Hayden Hallum, Vanessa Nicole Harn, Mallori Ashton Hart, Garrett Bridges Hayes, Autumn Brook Hendrixson, Haley Jane Hendrixson, Phillip Holden Hendrix, Sydnee Shea Hendrixson, Keagan Mikal Hensel, Daisy Elizabeth Hernandes Morales

Savannah Rhae Jackson, Luke Aubrey Jenkins, Emma Brooke Jennings, Jacob Lee Johnson, Jaden Layne Johnson, Evan Christopher Jones, Dylan Richard Judkins

Ariana Taylor Keith, Jasper David Kleparek, Cayden Elijah Kyle

Cyerra Marie Ladet, Tyzaun Orion Ladet, Allie Elizabeth Krist Lasser, Abigal May Lawson, Peyton Tyler Leaf, Jonathan Linebarger, Victor Coleman Luna

Harley James Mace, Joseph Michael Martin, Lily Grace Martin, Maritza Cecilia Martinez, Dalton Allen Mathias, Brandon Imanol Matias, Cassie Len Maxwell (deceased), Deanna Rachelle Maxwell, Ashlin Jane Maynard, Brandon Tyler McCoy, Jacklyne Brook McLaughlin, Lacey Jade McMillen, Joshua Isaiah Moon, Buddy Lee Murphy

Ava Isabelle Nokes, Desmond Bryant Jude Roy Nokes

Ty C. Osborn, Josef Micah Osment, Riley Michelle Overstreet, Alyssa Jade Owen

Jimmy Joe Pack, Noah Jacob Patterson, Candace Sky Pearson-Meyers, Madison Joan Peregoy, Chloe Grace Pigate, Caven Dwain Ponder, Ashley Samary Portillo, Megan Christine Price, William Samuel Pursell

Jacklyn Deloris Reed, Jason Allen Richards, Dakota James Rodgers, Janelle Alani Rodriguez, Angel Lynn Rutland

Joshua Blake Sanders, Memphis Gage Schunke, Michael Logan Sevier, Edith Citlalic Silva Godinez, Alisha Renea Skinner, Carlos Havier Solano, Kiley Faith Staley, Bryson Lee Stewart, Madison Noelle Stiffler, Jade Diane Stone, Emily Renee Swoape

Holly Nicole Tayes, Caleb Allen Taylor, Noah Xavier Terry, Calvin James Tramel, Ashton Caroll Truelove, Linh Nhat Troung

Avery Lupe Nichole Valdez, Carly Frances Vance, Hannah Lynn Vandyne, Parker Jeremiah Vantrease

Brenden Thomas Wagner, Hannah Xinyun Willingham, Mykenzie Danielle Wilson,  Jacob Lee Winchester, Keri Dawn Winchester, Caleb Lane Wood, Cody Austin Woodham, Cole Grayson Wright, and Skylor Shae Young.

February 19, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A boating accident on Center Hill Lake almost a year ago critically injured a young Putnam County woman but she is alive and well today in part due to the heroic actions of a park ranger at Edgar Evins State Park, a DeKalb EMS crew, and a Vandy Life Flight team who have been honored with the “Star of Life Award”

The awards ceremony was held Wednesday night in Nashville sponsored by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance (CECATN).

Receiving the Star of Life First Responder award were DeKalb EMS employees Tony Williams (EMT-Paramedic) and Donna Melton (AEMT), Edgar Evins State Park Ranger Lee Chadwell, and Vandy Life Flight team members Bill Dickson (pilot), Rachelle Brockman (RN, EMT, Flight Nurse), and Clayton Anstis (CCP, Flight Paramedic), who also works part time with DeKalb EMS.

These recipients were recognized for providing exemplary life saving care to Brtttany Tucker on May 31, 2020.

Tucker, age 19 at the time, was with others on Center Hill Lake when she was thrown from an inner tube being pulled by a boat. Tucker suffered an internal head wound in the accident and although she managed to get back to the boat under her own power, Tucker’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Park Ranger Chadwell quickly responded to render assistance as the DeKalb EMS crew (Williams and Melton) was enroute. Upon arrival, the EMS crew learned that Tucker began experiencing headaches and blurred vision before becoming unresponsive. She later started vomiting. EMS treated Tucker at the scene and during transport to a helicopter landing zone nearby where the Vandy Life Flight Crew had touched down. The Vandy helicopter ambulance crew joined the local EMS team in stabilizing Tucker in preparation for the flight. She was then airlifted to Vanderbilt hospital where she underwent further treatment by neurosurgeon and trauma team providers. Although critically injured, Tucker made a complete recovery.

The Star of Life Award recognizes exceptional front-line care, with a focus on the agencies and providers who are the initial care responders.

“We have a great group of EMS staff and I am very proud of them. As always all the different agencies worked together in exercising their knowledge, professionalism and care for the patient. On behalf of DeKalb EMS, we are honored to receive this special award,” said DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale.

May 14, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Commencement for the Class of 2021 will take place on the football field of DeKalb County High School tonight (Friday) starting at 7 p.m.

https://www.wjle.com/graduation-2021/

The DCHS band will perform the traditional pomp and circumstance as members of the class file onto the field to take their seats. The program will then open with an invocation, a performance by the DCHS Chorus, remarks by Class President and Valedictorian Carly Vance, recognition of honors students, and presentation of the prestigious White Rose and Citizenship awards. Diplomas will then be presented to the graduates by Principal Randy Jennings followed by the benediction to close out the commencement.

Click link below to view the DCHS Class of 2021 photo gallery sponsored in May by Sheriff Patrick Ray, Road Supervisor Danny Hale, Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Trustee Sean Driver, Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, NHC Healthcare Center of Smithville, Ascension St Thomas DeKalb Hospital, Gill Automotive, Good Health Family Clinic, DeKalb Funeral Chapel, First Bank, the DeKalb County Prevention Coalition, , and DTC Communications.

https://www.wjle.com/graduation-2021/

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