Big graduating classes were among the themes for high school commencements this spring in Randolph County.
The largest class was at Asheboro High School with 352 graduates. That marks the school’s biggest class in 25 years.
Most high school commencements in the county were held this week, though there were a couple earlier.
Within the Randolph County School System, there were 1,075 graduates across eight high schools.
RCSS, citing a transition from one student information system to another, was unable to provide a school-by-school breakdown of graduates.
The schools in RCSS include six traditional high schools (Eastern Randolph, Providence Grove, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph, Trinity, Wheatmore) plus Uwharrie Ridge 6-12 and Randolph Early College.
RCSS reported a special moment at Wheatmore, where graduate Hannah Brooks was surprised by her brother, Cameron Brooks, a Wheatmore alum and Marine who’s stationed in Hawaii.
“His surprise attendance was definitely one of the most precious things I have witnessed in my 28 years in education,” said Amanda Tuggle, assistant principal at Wheatmore.
Among the RCSS graduates was the son of district superintendent Stephen Gainey. Jake Gainey graduated from Southwestern Randolph, where his father handed him his diploma.
Meanwhile, Asheboro’s senior class included 55 honor graduates and 61 distinguished graduates. Special awardees or speakers included Emma Julian, JaNila Hobdy, Liberty Adams and Dolly Gladden. That ceremony was moved indoors because of weather concerns June 10.
RCSS ceremonies also were conducted indoors because of weather threats on the same night.
** Uwharrie Charter Academy had its largest graduating class in school history with 197 diplomas distributed. This was the school’s 11th graduating class.
“Our upcoming classes are even larger,” said Jennifer Hogue, data manager for the school.
The main commencement took place for the first time at Novant Health Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum complex.
“We’re growing, so we (moved the location),” high school principal Beth Kearns said. “Everyone got a ticket who wanted one. In the past, we had to cut our guest list.”
There turned out to be two commencement ceremonies a few days apart. That’s because seven baseball players weren’t available for the scheduled event May 30 when they were competing in Game 1 of the Class 1A state finals in Holly Springs.
UCA won the state championship May 31. Then two days later, there was a gathering at the school’s baseball field where school officials conducted a commencement ceremony for the seven baseball players.
Among the UCA graduates, at least 110 have are set to attend two- or four-year colleges, Kearns said.
