By Gary Lee Stuber
The 108th annual Commencement and Baccalaureate Service was held at Clay County High School on May 18, 2024. Hundreds of family members and friends were present to watch 123 seniors walk across the stage and accept their diplomas. This included 99-year-old World War II veteran Charles Edward Bird, who was recognized by the US Congress and was gifted a flag that was flown over the US Capitol in his honor. His granddaughter Ashdon Miley Salisbury was also a graduating senior in this class. She just turned 17. There were 25 National Honor Society Members in this class. Principal Tanner announced that more than $50,000 worth of scholarships were awarded this year to Clay County seniors.
Music, including Pomp and Circumstance, was performed by James D. Ployar who directed the Clay County Concert Band. The Star Spangled Banner was performed by the Tanners (gospel group). Inspirational reading was performed by third ranking student Mr. Zane Minger; Salutatory Address by Miss Taylor Adkins; and the Valedictory address was performed by Mr. Issac Brown, Miss Gracey Champ, and Mr. Dylan McCumbers. Later, the Benediction would be given by fourth ranking students Miss Natalie Coleman and Miss Maggie Smith.
The commencement address was given by Major General James A. Hoyer, retired, now Vice President for Economic Innovation at West Virginia University and an important part of the CMI2 project at Lizemores. At the end of the address Major General Hoyer announced that CMI2 is taking on 25 students this year for summer employment. Welcome news as all gave him a hardy applause.
Mr. Tanner gave out scholarship awards and Superintendent Dobbins and the Clay County Board of Education handed out diplomas as names were called. Mr. Tanner also recognized seven seniors who were going into the military upon graduation. Acceptance of the diplomas was by Mr. Caden Delwarte, President of the Senior Class.
The full list of graduating seniors from Clay County High School is as follows:
Adkins, Isaiah Hunter
Adkins, Michael Cody
Adkins, Morgan Leighann
Adkins, Taylor Brooke
Akers, Trevor John
Auxier, Ethan Cole
Auxier, Logan Garrett
Bailey, Lauryn Skylar
Belt, Jaylyn Alexis
Bickford, Dylan Scott
Bird, Charles E.
Black, Braden Michael
Blankenship, Colton Nathaniel
Bodkins, Jamison Rian
Brady, Michael Phillip
Brown, Isaac Trenton
Brown, Joshua Michael
Bullard, Cody Allen
Burdette, James Martin
Caldwell, Natalie Brook
Campbell, Jacob Joseph
Carper Jr, Jeffery Shannon
Champ, Gracey Paige
Chapman, Haley Gracen
Coleman, Natalie Sharlotte
Cummings, Ashton Joseph
Cummings, Nevaeh Hope
Cutlip, Coalton Ray
Deems, Austin Levi
Deems, Mallory Paige
Delwarte, Caden Alan
Deyton, Zachary Levi
Dobbins, Charlee Jean
Drake, Glenda Louise
Duffield, Eian Matthew
Edwards, Jonathan David
Elliott, Elijah Lee
Ferrebee, Jarod Isaac
Ferrebee, Shane Preston
Frame, Jillian Brooke
Frame, Jonathan Wade
Friend, Matthew Ryan
Gandee, Michael David
Gill, Madison Renee
Goldizen, Lilly Mae
Goodwin, Haylee Brooke
Hamrick, Hunter Ray
Hinkle, Kennah Alexyss
Hively, Jessee James
Holcomb, Elijah Craig
Holcomb, Elijah Keith
Holley, Abigail Marie
James, Savannah Jo
Johnston, Bryson Scott
Johnston, Lindsey Rose Lauren
Jones, Kaylee Autumn
Jones, Makayla Brooke
Keiffer, Eric Michael
Koch, Kylei Elizabeth
Lindenthal, Gavin Seth
Loos, Marylynn Elizabeth
Lowe-Neal, Tara Gail
Lowe, Myrikah Angelina
Luzader, Abigail Lynn
Martin, Helenia Marie
McCumbers, Dylan Lee
McKinney, Brayden Michael
Meadows, Lillian Grace
Means, Andrew Clinton
Metheney, Cecelia Faith
Metheney, Temmeria Jean Nicole
Miller Jr, Justin Rebel
Miller, Blade Alexander
Miller, Hunter Austin
Miller, Jaden Lucinda
Minger, Zane Michael
Mitchell III, Allen Wayne
Mitchell, Matthew Brayton
Moore II, Jason Wyatt
Moore, Kamryn Nichole
Morrison, Nathaniel Alan
Mullins, Isaac Monroe
Murphy, Haley Madison
Myers, Logan Wayne
Myers, Tristan Ora Briar
Naylor, Rebecca Danielle
Neal, Cohen Mark
Nottingham, Ethan Wayne
Nottingham, Tanner Bryson
Osborne, Megan Tracy
Osborne, Micah Todd
Preast, Auston Jay
Price III, Danny Ray
Puente, Lucas Jesse
Quinn, Jackson Henry
Remias, Natalie Patricia
Rogers, Lukas Mace
Rose, Marlena Faye
Salisbury, Ashdon Miley
Salisbury, Evan Eugene
Samples, Bratton Robert
Santiago, Beonca Esmerelda
Sears, Eric Michael
Sheldon, Hayden Scott
Sigman, Kayleigh Lynn
Sizemore III, Michael Karl
Sizemore, Jake Everette
Smith, James Phillip
Smith, Maggie Maelyn
Starcher, Zachary Ryan
Stoops, Savannah Dawn
Taylor, Abagale Brooke
Taylor, Devon Harvey
Taylor, Garrett Andrew
Taylor, Hailey Nicole
Taylor, Jimmy Allan
Truman, Kendall Charles
Tucker, Lillian Ashley P
Waseleski II, Michael
Williams, Benjamin Joseph
Williams, Landon Walker
Witt, Olivia Marie
Wynn, Nathan Palmer
