Salem High School class of 2018 commencement exercises will take place 7 p.m. Friday at the Salem High School football stadium. This is the 133rd graduation of the school. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the SHS gymnasium.
The Salem High School Chamber Singers and the Salem High School band will perform during the ceremony.
The counselor’s office reports that about 140 students are expected to graduate Friday evening.
Awards will be presented for citizenship, best all-around boy and girl, as well as valedictorian and salutatorian recognition.
Valedictorians are Baylee Bilyeu, Nathaniel Bray, Cory Gamblin, Matthew Jessen, Richard Parks, Aubrey Schmit, Jacob Stacy and Dawson Wynn. Salutatorians are Sarah Parker, Madison Shaw, Savanna Tuttle and Gregory Headrick.
More than $70,000 was awarded to students during the Salem R-80 School District’s annual Scholarships Award Ceremony held in April.
SHS class of 2018 officers are president Richard Parks, vice president Quin Blankenship, secretary Matthew Jessen and treasurer Jacob Stacy.
Students have collected many accolades in a variety of clubs and athletics over the past four years. Championships in quiz bowl, band, art, choir, FFA, and more can be attributed to the hard work of students in this class.
“The class of 2018 was a class of independent thinkers. Finding creative ways to solve problems was truly their strength,” said SHS Principal Marty Anderson.
The class motto is “Don’t be afraid to leave behind the good to go for the great.”
The class song is the 1982 hit “Electric Avenue,” by Eddy Grant.
The annual baccalaureate service was held Sunday at New Harmony Church. A student-organized event, the service is a special time for graduates and their families and friends. Salem Chamber Singers performed, as well as speeches by seniors Justin Florence and Sam Swindell, and saxophone solo by Jacob Stacy. Tea Cowan created a senior slideshow, featuring a few remakes of child photos that delighted the audience. The ceremony was narrated by senior class president Richard Parks, and Dalton Sanders gave the invocation, while Dawson Wynn offered the benediction. New Harmony Youth Pastor David Fletcher spoke to seniors about following God’s path for their life.
Project Graduation is held after commencement annually. The all-night event held at Salem High School is a drug and alcohol-free time for the seniors to celebrate alongside friends in a safe environment. Seniors will enjoy a barbeque of hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork and more. A hypnotist, paint ball, laser tag, money machine, a photo booth, mechanical bull, and sumo wrestling are some of the activities chosen for the fun-filled evening. Over 100 students have signed up so far to attend.
