‘Hard work’ leads to 442 HVA grads
“You’ve accomplished so much,” HVA interim principal Michael Reynolds said. “But you’re just getting started.”
As graduate Emma Grace Oliver read in her poem, “The Library in My Mind,” she pointed out the graduates are “waiting for the next page.”
Daisy Arnwine talked about “Courageous Attempts” and urged fellow graduates to “try — go out into the world and do what you can.”
In her speech “Metamorphosis,” fellow speaker Ali Bloomer advised, “Where there is life, there is hope,” which she quoted from Stephen Hawking.
Eleni Johnson, in “Conscientious Drivers,” observed the “biggest challenge today is making it through the parking lot.”
But she challenged classmates. “Whichever direction you choose to go … make a conscious effort not to push past those who support you,” Johnson advised.
The event also was an opportunity to recognize graduates’ achievements.
As such, “the Hawk Award is the highest award voted on by the Hardin Valley Academy faculty bestowed upon a graduating senior,” HVA instructional coach Ashli Beeler said as she presented the award to Valeria Covarrubias.
“The award is presented to a student who has exemplified the finest qualities of HVA … dependability, responsibility citizenship, cheerfulness and moral character,” Beeler said.
Covarrubias, one of five nominees, “went above and beyond,” the instructional coach said. “She … was the first to volunteer to do anything extra, whether it’s helping her peers, teachers or making positive contributions in the classroom.”
Administrators recognized valedictorian Grace Deckard, salutatorian Eli Johnson and five military enlistees: Abigail Barnes, Andrew Carroll and Joshua Richard Morrison, all Army National Guard; Carter Rogers, U.S. Marine Corps; and Alena Corinne Nawrocki, U.S. Naval Academy.
Three hundred and fifty-three graduates earned Tennessee Achieves scholarships, more than 200 received Hope Scholarships and 43 earned additional Tennessee Lottery General Assembly Merit scholarships.
“This year, the total amount of scholarships offered to the Class of 2023 is $23,514,478,” assistant administrator Ryan McDonnough announced.
