Rainbows, records for BHS grads
BEARDEN — While having to deal with the onset of the COVID-19 world crisis as freshmen, Bearden High School’s Class of 2023 weathered “the rain” and storms of COVID and other adversities — and earned a special “rainbow” after four years.
That rainbow: a school record $36,255,176 in total scholarship dollars.
“This year, our senior quote was taken from Tennessee’s beloved Dolly Parton, who once said, ‘The way I see it, if you want the rainbow you’ve got to put up with the rain,’” announced graduate Ranya Joshi, Class of 2023 president, to kick off BHS Commencement Ceremony among a packed John H. Burnette Stadium Wednesday, May 31.
“… We have won six state championships, we have earned (three straight) national dance (team) titles. … While also showcasing our choral talent at Carnegie Hall.”
In closing, “… We are in the midst of our very own rainbow,” Joshi said.
However, while BHS principal Deborah K. Sayers praised the Class of 2023 for its many four-year accomplishments, she reminded the roughly 450 graduates, “While there will certainly be more rainbows to come, there will absolutely be more storms.”
Donald Balcom, Senior Class principal, said 32 percent of the Class of 2023 earned a minimum 4.0 grade-point average.
Balcom announced, “The class includes two National Merit Semifinalists, one National Merit Finalist, five National Merit Commended Students, two National Hispanic Scholars, four Ned McWhorter Scholars, One National Merit Scholarship winner, 13 Seal of Biliteracy awardees and two students with World Language Honor Seals, several Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Awardees, Five National Achievers Society Scholars, one student with a perfect 36 ACT score, the state of Tennessee Winner of the High School Heisman, the Gatorade Player of the Year (soccer) and a community recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.
“This class also includes members of the National Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors for (Navy) JROTC (and) first-place champions in the Tennessee NJROTC Drill Competition, the first Virtual Enterprise National Championship team, 516 National Industry Certifications … (and) 2022 Girls United Soccer Coaches & Prep No. 1 team in the nation …,” he added.
Also earned included “125 Advanced Placement Student Recognitions, including 88 Scholars, 34 AP Scholars with Distinction, 12 AP Scholars with Honors … and 30 Capstone Diplomas,” Balcom said.
The Class of 2023 also helped BHS earn “a Silver Level Award” among US News & World Report’s “Best American High Schools Ranking, (placing) in the top 11 percent of all high schools in the United States,” he announced.
Alumni of the Year awardee was Les Johnston, Class of 1972.
