Emergency Meeting

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pick it up. We're good.

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which I think I didn't see you. All right.

[Music] Heat. Heat. Heat.

Good evening. We would like to welcome everyone to our 2025 commencement ceremony. We extend a special thank you to our board of education chair, Mr. Gary Leonard, our superintendent, Dr. Jackson, board of education members, senior cabinet, members of our district leadership team, and fellow principles. To all of these individuals, the faculty and staff of Cadam Central, the families and friends, thank you all for the continued support and opportunities you have provided our students throughout the years. At this time, gentlemen, please remove your hats and join us as student Gabriella Phillips leads us in the pledge of allegiance, followed by student Maddie Underwood with a moment of gratitude. Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for the national anthem. You may be seated. I think I speak for the entire class of 2025 when I say thank you. Though simple, these words hold every bit of our appreciation for all who have

influenced our academic career. First and foremost, thank you, Jesus, for letting us be here today and guiding us through the last four years. As you've brought us to this crucial milestone, we are reminded of your perfect plan. Whether we decide to continue our education, go straight into the workforce, or serve this amazing country, each of us was created for a purpose. To our parents, you are truly the best. You have taught us countless life lessons outside of the classroom and provided us with much love and support. Since the first day we walked into kindergarten, you never once left our side. We hope seeing us on this stage today is enough payback for all the advice you've given, long car rides, and countless dollars you've spent on us. We couldn't have done this without you. Teachers, we are so grateful for your extensive knowledge on various subjects. Over the years, we progressed from learning the ABCs to solving complex equations. And without your help, such a transition never would have occurred. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed. Coaches, your unwavering commitment has undeniably impacted our lives. You pushed us to our limits, showing us the only person that can hold us back is ourselves. And it's time we gave credit where credit is due. Classmates is not a strong enough word

to describe the bond between this graduating class. Thank you all for being a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, and a listening ear. Your friendship has been the sweetest blessing. Please never become a stranger. Each one of these individuals has prepared us for the next chapter in our lives. The real world doesn't seem so scary since we've had constant support from the best role models, parents, teachers, coaches. Your support means the world. It is with this occasion of gratitude I ask that you please join me for a moment of silence. Thank you. [Music] 8 years old. Couple cane pose. Sitting

down by the creek. Lines in the water watching those bobbers. Seeing that red sun sink. Mama's on the porch yelling, "Suppers high, y'all. Come and get it." We yield five more minutes. At 16, it was 12:03, standing at her front door. And Katie's dad said, "Midnight, but we needed just a little more. A little light buzzing on and off. Interrupting that good night kissing. We wanted five more minutes. Time rolls by. The clock don't stop. I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff. The good times come with ages keep on flying right on by like it ain't nothing. I wish I had me a pause button. Moments like those. Lord knows I hit it and give myself five more minutes and 18 turn my helmet in and I walked to the 50 yard line just a coach and me after we lost 8 10 nine and I cried man next Time to get in here. I'll have to buy a ticket. Can't you give me five

minutes? Time rolls by. The clock don't stop. I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff. The good times. But they just keep on flying right on by like it ain't nothing. Wish I had me a pause, but moments like those, Lord knows how it hit and give myself five more minutes. In 86, grandpa said, "There's angels in the room." All the family gather around. Knew the time was coming soon. With so much left to say, I pray, Lord, I ain't finished. Can't you give me five more minutes? [Music] Time rolls by. The clock don't stop. I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff. The good times on pages keep on flying right on by like it ain't enough. Wish I had me a pause button. Moments like those, Lord knows how I'd hit it. Yes. Sometimes it's all I believe you wishes. Give me five more minutes.

And give me five Five [Applause] Good evening. I am Landry Allen and I have the honor to share with you the history of our class. As I stand here today with my 93 classmates, it's amazing to see how much we've grown and changed since we first entered Chattam Central four years ago. After a 2year long pandemic, we entered high school like a wrecking ball, fully ready to embrace this new chapter in our lives. On October 23rd, 2021, we entered Cadam Central as the class of 2025. With 154 classmates, we were the largest freshman class Chadam Central had seen in a while. Our first semester, we wore mask and ate lunch in the classrooms, Luke Gaines was elected as our student government class president, Carter King as the vice president, and Hannah Gully Moore as the secretary. We beat our high school rival Jordan Matthews in football for the first time

in 54 years. [Music] And to celebrate, we rushed the field. We enjoyed our first high school pep rally and homecoming representative Landry Allen represented us under Friday night lights. We sat through Miss Frell's math class learning to solve equations and left there to walk to Ms. Bryce's English class where we learned to properly write an essay. In Mr. Walden's health and PE class, we played bad mitten and Andy Holt went for a stomach first slide down the ramp in front of Mr. Walden's room. We learned that high school Spanish was very difficult and we embraced the opportunity to learn from Senor Cerna. Caroli Dodson made the varsity volleyball and basketball team. Caroli and Maddie Underwood traveled to Ochre Coke for a varsity playoff game where someone supporting the other team got arrested during halftime. Reed Albbright made the varsity basketball team and Zayn Overman made the varsity baseball team due to their strong athletic ability even as freshmen. After one year under our belt, we entered as sophomores with the 106 students. We were no longer the youngest students and began to adjust to the high school life. This year we entered with no mask and enjoyed something new called empower hour. We ate lunch and spent many days tanning on the soccer field and playing pickup basketball during that time. We attended many football games and homecoming representative Alyssa King represented us as we took on SE4th for our homecoming game. The AVID class tooured UNC Chapel Hill. Bristol

Ferguson, Eli Turner, and other AVID students met Caleb Love and posed for a photograph. Kayn Gunner earned honors in the Skills USA State Outstanding Chapter Contest, placing second. In September, our assistant principal, Mr. Cassidy said goodbye as we welcomed new assistant principal Mr. Todd. We took lots of B-rolls and fully embraced the.5 photos. Although we fell short to see forth on the court, Miss Albbright showed her school spirit by destroying the Hulk in a danceoff. During the second semester of our sophomore year, we say goodbye to our principal, Dr. Es. Meanwhile, Claire Fugway placed first in the regional HOSA competition, competing in healthcare photography and placed top 10 at the state competition. We finished our silly sophomore season and realized it was time to stop setting off alarms during class, emailing each other from different email accounts, and turning each other's book bags inside out. As we quickly became upper classmen in 2023, we gathered for our first day as juniors with 92 students. We welcomed our new principal, Miss Dark, as she came home to the best high school in Chattam County. Having left that other one, Ben Wilson was voted in as our new SGA class treasurer, and Brady Phillips was voted in as secretary. Fall was filled with volleyball, cheerleading, and football games. We gathered for our third pep rally where

Emma Burke got dunked on by our new football coach, Coach Little. Carolyn Dodson represented us on the homecoming court and thanks to our athletic boosters, we experienced our first ever homecoming dance. We danced until they kicked us out. We prepared for Mr. Patton's chemistry labs and our favorite 700 a.m. study sessions with Miss King. In expectation for our American history test, Ben Wilson, Carter King, and Gabriella Phillips all placed first at the state FBA conference competing in parliamentary procedure and had the opportunity to compete at the National FBA competition in Orlando. During the winter, our AVID class toured Appalachin State and got kicked out of the building for distracting students during their lecture. Reed Albbright scored his 1,000th point during our junior basketball season. As spring came around, we watched the varsity baseball team take Northmore into a 14 ining game. In CTE, Shaun Johnson placed first in the state for the Skills USA State Community Service, which earned him a spot representing us at the national level that summer. As our junior year ended, we were ready to head into another high school summer and Gabriella Phillips headed to Raleigh with an invitation to attend Governor's School. We then entered our senior year, the beginning of the end. We gathered for senior sunrise on this football field for breakfast before the year started. Luke Gaines was voted SGAA executive board president. Carter King was vice president. Ben Wilson was treasurer and

Brady Phillips was secretary. Gabby Phillips was voted as senior class president. Alongside her, vice president Carly Callahan treasurer Emma Burke and Secretary Landry Allen. Every senior enjoyed Miss King's famous EPF outdoor learning trails. We spent our Friday nights soaking up our last football games. Emily Armstrong represented our class on the homecoming court while Maddie Underwood was crowned homecoming queen and Luke Gaines was crowned homecoming king. After our homecoming game, Brady Phillips jumped in the pond to cool off. Carter King and Reed Albbright led us to a powderpuff win where we didn't allow any touchdowns and were named powderpuff champions. We began to apply for colleges and soaked up every last moment we had together. Ben Wilson, Carter King, and Brady Phillips were state FFA degree recipients. Jake Poe and Owen Dowy represented Cadam Central and the Hunter Skills Team in the district shoot. Payton Barondo was named AOSA State Representative. Giovani Gonzalez received first place in the state for Skills USA career pathway and human services and will represent North Carolina at the 2025 National Leadership and Skills Conference. Meanwhile, Nicholas Cass Stevens received the John Phillips Susha Award for music. During the winter, we enjoyed snow days, basketball games, wrestling matches, and the Christmas season. Caroli Dodson scored her 1,000th point during our senior basketball season and Reed Albbright scored his 20,000th point. Brennan Odum opened the

basketball season with a two pass slam dunk. Kaylee Wararf, Jayla Clark, Aspen Phillips, Ammani Carter, and Payton Berando formed our first ever Cadam Central women's wrestling team, going 8 for two in their season. On a rainy Saturday morning during our junior year, a 20 carline caravan left from Cadam Central as we drove to take the SAT like a family unit. Emily Armstrong, Courtney Caves, Reagan Golston, Cameron Berquette, and Devin Carroll were all a part of this carline and special memory. We got to experience SAT testing again, this time as seniors. With the spring season underway, Eli Turner and Reed Albbright were a part of the men's 4x100 meter relay team that placed third in the conference and competed at our state track meet. Emma Burke, Kaye Warf, Harley Norton, and Khloe Scott led the softball team to a winning season, and they were named the 2024 2025 conference champions. We attended the local rodeo to watch Zayn Overman compete in many categories. We dressed up one last time for our last ever high school prom where Payton and Logan Berondo were crowned prom king and queen. For the first time, AP Art Studio was offered here at Cadam Central. Three students successfully completed it. Emory Estridge, Alindi Hernandez, and Yael Lucera Mendoza. In addition, Nicholas C. Stevens and Amelia Rodriguez received a rating of superior in the West Cadam band. Our class as a whole received numerous awards in English, math, science,

foreign languages, social studies, and other electives. We received over $79,000 in local scholarships and many numerous merit scholarships from various universities. David Morales was awarded the Dell Scholarship. David Morales and David Baroo Okconor both received the Carolina Covenant, a full ride to UNC Chapel Hill. Khloe Scott committed to Meredith College to continue her basketball journey. Caroli Dodson also committed to Meredith College where she will be continuing her volleyball career. Kaylee Warf committed to NC Westland where she is continuing her softball career. Luke Gains committed to Guilford College to continue his career in football. And Brennan Odum committed to play basketball at Kataba Valley. Zayn Overman committed to Northwest Mississippi Community College to compete as part of the roping team and in steer wrestling. Amelia Rodriguez enlisted in the US Air Force and Haley Espinosa Mundo enlisted in the US Navy. 45 students received work keys cords. 28 students in our senior AVID class received AVID stole. And in addition, our class includes Beta Club officers, National Technical Honor Society members, student government officers, and link crew leaders. As we leave behind the classrooms, sporting events, lunch table conversations, and hallways to step into a future full of possibility, I am reminded of a verse that has always grounded me. Colossians 3:23, "Work willingly at whatever you do as

though you are working for the Lord rather than for people." This reminds us to put our heart into everything we do and do it to the best of your ability, regardless of the challenge. It reminds us to not do things for recognition, but because excellence honors something greater. The class of 2025 will be remembered for sweet friends and sweeter memories. Thank you. Good evening, Chattam Central parents, families, special guests, and classmates. My name is Emma Burke, and it's my great honor to give this challenge to the class of 2025. The past four years have been filled with challenging, memorable, unforgettable, and something we will never experience again. We all began this journey together in the fall of 2021 not knowing where it would lead any of us in life. We began as young freshmen with many trials and joys. But we have now arrived at this moment. We are leaving Chadam Central High School as adults with knowledge and experience that will last us a lifetime. We have come so far. To our teachers, we thank you for your dedication and pushing us all beyond our limits in the classroom, on the court or field, and even in life.

You have not just been educators to us, but you have all been mentors, guiding us with much patience and wisdom and preparing us for the difficulties of adult life. You endeavored each day to make sure we that we learned something in the classroom that would impact us forever. You continued to encourage us to try our best and get back up when we failed. You all saw much potential when we all doubted ourselves and for that we are extremely grateful. To our parents and families, thank you for the love and support you have all shown us the past 18 years of our lives. You have been the backbone to our success. You have served as our life coach, cheering us on from the sidelines, celebrating our victories, and being a light to our darkness during hard times. From the three-hour drive to play in a state playoff game, late night coming home from school concerts, helping us study for tests, assembling all our tax forms for FASA, reading essays for college applications or late night advice sessions. You have been the reason for our success. This support system is key to us sitting here today in red caps and gowns eagerly awaiting our diplomas. Today is as much your achievement as it is ours. We thank you. Now to my classmates. The past four years have been filled with many highs and lows. From beating JM football and Miss Dart being named principal of the year to losing Empower Hour and the

internet always going out. These moments of joy and hardship can be compared to an athletic event. Some days we come to practice and dread being there, but at the end of the season, we are grateful for all the times we showed up. Elementary school can be viewed as an easy inning, quarter, or set, while high school was a more challenging one. There were days when we questioned the time we had to put in to make ourselves achieve more, do better. Just like in school, we all dread having to wake up early in the morning to come to Miss King's 700 a.m. study session. But after those tests, we were grateful we showed up. Even showing up in the summer to volunteer and clean the parking lot with Miss Albbright or maybe even summer practices that started at 6:00 a.m. on the tennis courts. These are memories that will last us a lifetime. There is value in putting the time in, doing the hard work to find success. It teaches persistence and perseverance. These are both skills we need to be successful in life. They always say that time flies when you're having fun, and the past four years have been a prime example of that. We are now on to the next transitions of our lives. Whether it is attending a community college, a 4-year institution, going straight into the workforce, or going to serve our country, I encourage you all to always strive and be yourself. In your next transition in life, I challenge you to make a lasting

first impression. As we are now all heading out on our own journey where we will meet many new people, you must make a positive first impression that will stick with that individual forever. You need to always carry yourself in a way that shows confidence. I also challenge you to have a strong work ethic. All of my life, my parents have always told me, "No matter what you start in life, always give it your best and trust in yourself." This is something I encourage you all to do. Always trust yourself in the decision you make and give everything you do in life your best. I also challenge you to shine bright no matter how much darkness you will face. Remember to stay true to yourself and live how you want to live and not how others want you to live. In closing, I encourage you, the class of 2025, to always bear down in life, travel the narrow path, and always be proud to be a bear. Our Cadam Central alumni status will always unite us wherever we go. Thank you. [Music]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. At this time, we will be presenting the diplomas. We ask that you hold all applause until the end. Will our first group of graduates please rise and join me at the stage. William Reed Albbright, Landry Elise Allen, [Music]

Emily An Armstrong, Ethan Andrew Armstrong, Tommy Rama Asins, David Baruch Okana, Payton Elizabeth Grace Berando, Samuel Logan Berando, Alexander Lee Boils, Shelley Grace Brooks, Emma Marie Burke, Cameron Michael Burrett, [Music] [Applause] Carly Jean Morgan, Callahan, Devin, Elise, Carol. Ammani Nicole Carter. That's my girl.

Carter Shay Caves, Courtourtney Lynn Caves, [Music] Jayla Renee Clark, Tiana Kristen Clay, Karen Faith Cox, Donovan Eayes, Cruz Fernandez, Koli Fate, Dodson, Randall Steven, Donna, Isaac, Lewis, Dowy, Owen Michael Dowy, Christopher Grayson Elkins, Matthew Harrison Edwards,

Haley Espinosa Mundo, [Music] Emmery Grace Estridge, Shaniah Bristol Ferguson, Claire Ruth Fugquway, John Luke Gains, Troy Holland Gains, Stephanie Garcia Perez, Lindsay Nicole Gerbin, Jagger Gaines, Gillerand, Reagan, Elizabeth Goldston, Giovani Gonzalez, Santana, [Music] Hannah Tamara Gully Moore, Kayn Elizabeth Gunter,

Natalie Lane Hall, William Avery Hatfield, Zuier Victoria Hernandez Perez, Alindi Hel Hernandez, Andy Mac Holt, Lionel Abara, Alva, [Music] Abigail Marie Herby, Kyle Christopher Jameson Craig Aiden Johnson Jr. Sha Edward Johnson II Joshua Eddie Juan San Juan, Pacy Moon Kernstein, Alyssa Paige King, Carter Lewis King,

Riley Allan Lee, Dalton James Lewis, [Music] Gston Noel Lopez, Gavara, Yael Lucero Mendoza, Joseph Lee Macaulay, [Applause] Steven Charles Lean Mloud, Katherine Denora Menddees Gutierrez, Steven Walker Moody, David Morales, Hernandez, Angie G Pola Nava Arazzo Gracie Enid Nava Arurazzo [Music] Harley Jean Norton Javier Nunees is Brennan Story ODM

Zane Tate Overman Madison Rose Patricio, Aspen Berkeley Phillips, [Applause] Brady Mlan Phillips, Gabriella Kate Phillips, [Music] Jake Browning Poe, Amaya Nicole Richardson, Arlene Rios Francis, Amelia Camille Rodriguez, out here Sanchez, Espinosa, Jackson Lee, Sanders, Chloe Renee Scott, [Music] Mary Carol Shields,

Steven Carl Silhan, III, Railan Marie Smith, Elijah Allen Turner, Maddie Lee Underwood, Jaden Eva Walters, Kaylee Marie Warf, Trinity Fate Welch, [Applause] [Music] Benjamin David Wilson.

Please join me in congratulating the Chattam Central High School 2025 graduating class. Students, over the past four years, you have worked to bear down in the classroom, competition, and the community. Your work has resulted in 11,100,980 in scholarships, 10,983,787 in AVID scholarships, $1,42 college credits earned, two military enlistments, and many jobs secured. That is how you bear down. Now, finally, the moment you have all been waiting for. Please stand. By the authority vested in me by the state of North Carolina, the Chattam County Board of Education, and Dr. Jackson, I now declare you graduates of Chadam Central High School, class of 2025. You may now turn your tassels. Congratulations, class of 2025. I like that. To our guests, please stand and remain at your seats until all graduates and staff members have fully exited the track and the music has stopped.

Graduates will be receiving their diplomas and then returning to the field to find their families and friends. Thank you so much for joining us. Have a great night. [Music] Heat. Heat up here.