It is a great day to be a Dillo! I think I speak for all SSISD staff, students, parents, and community when I say pheeeew! Well done. I hope our parents and community realize that our staff did everything they could to make the class of 2020 graduation as special as we could. I thought it was incredible, and to all involved, I am very proud to be an Armadillo. High School Principal Dr. Snyder, Counselor Leanne Johnson, office staff Miranda Uli and Kay Barklay, and Librarian Deanne Cromer did an incredible job.
By Governor decree, they were not allowed to have a rehearsal prior to graduation with the seniors. Not only that, but it was conducted live on YouTube. Our tech team of Tim Cooper, Scott Hayes and Kendrick Nelson worked extra hours to make sure we had the bandwidth to view the ceremony on-line. Tyler Lackey and his team made sure the audio-visual aspect was top notch. It went off great! And to all the others who also made it happen, Kenneth Groomes, Jose Landeros, Bryan Rogers, Merideth Deeds, Billy Deeds, Ben Burkhalter, Angela Tinney, Katelyn Murray, Juliana Burkhalter, Jeff Carlson, Meredith Meador, Andy Barclay, Brooke Bagley, Austin Eudy, Andres Aguirre, Rusty Glover, Jake Lackey, Robby Haynes and Alton Tinney, Thank You! Close to a hundred people watched the ceremony on a big screen at the civic center, and almost another 200 logged in on personal devices at home. We appreciate all the community support. By all counts, over 500 people participated in Friday night’s ceremony in some form or another.
I hope we never have to do graduation like this in the future, but we did possibly create some new traditions in the process. Streaming graduation via the internet is a good thing, and we will probably try to continue a livestream for folks who cannot attend in person.
Having our graduates enter the field through the blow-up San Saba logo was pretty cool, and I do not think that will go away.
High School Graduation is an important thing. In times past, 8th grade graduation was a big deal because, for many students, they were expected to go to work at 14 or 15 years old. And the 8th grade was as far as many students ever went. My grandfather was one of those who was an 8th grade graduate, and it was socially acceptable back in the 1930’s.
Things have changed, and it is socially unacceptable for a student to drop out in middle school. The expectations for education are higher almost 100 years later, and it will be very difficult for any student’s future success without a High School Diploma. It is a gateway for greater things.
Education is the equalizer that gives our students the best chance for a bright tomorrow.
High School Graduation is a big deal for the students, but I tell graduates that the night is as much about honoring their parents as it is them. It takes a lot to get a student from kindergarten to 12th grade. They cannot do it alone. There are many, many adults coaching, cajoling, prodding, challenging and encouraging those young minds every step of the way.
So, parents, grandparents, guardians and teachers, congratulations! You did it. You got them to the finish line of high school which is the starting line for adulthood.
So, to the class of 2020, you ended your high school career with the great lesson that life is not always fair. Life is what you make it. Things we call obstacles to success can also be considered guardians of our destiny.
Challenges build your character so that you can fulfill the purposes that God has planned for you with maturity and excellence. I know you will. Go Dillos!