photos by Tom Chillemi –
84 members of the Middlesex High School (MHS) Class of 2021 graduated as one group on Saturday, June 5, in the John S. Clements Memorial Gymnasium at MHS in Saluda.
MHS principal Susan Fleet delivered a brief address.
Photos available for purchase. Click here for more info.Graduation Closer to Normal As COVID-19 Restrictions Ease
There seemed to be an unusual feeling for the 72nd Middlesex High School commencement conducted on Saturday, June 5, at the school.
The Class of 2021 had been tested with isolation, distant learning, and social distance as the world fought to contain COVID-19, which struck in March 2020 and shut down school and much of life.
After 15 months battling COVID-19, things were almost back to normal for this graduation. Masks were still prevalent, but all soon-to-be graduates and their invited guests were assembled in John S. Clements Memorial Gymnasium in Saluda.
In a “normal” year a guest speaker would deliver a graduation address. However, COVID-19 restrictions forbidding large gatherings were still in place in the weeks leading up to graduation. School officials had planned on holding four separate and smaller graduation ceremonies to limit the number of people in the gym, similar to last year’s graduation, which was delayed a month. The governor’s restrictions were eased a week before graduation and all 84 Charger students graduated together.
Memories
As the main speaker, MHS Principal Susan Fleet shared a memory of each and every graduate. Some memories she had gathered from teachers.
One memory went back almost 12 years when valedictorian Sara Murray was a first grader in Fleet’s class and didn’t want to leave the classroom. “She would sit on my foot and ride down the hall clutching my leg because she would not walk,” said Fleet. (Valedictorian Murray will attend The College of William and Mary. She is the daughter of Karen and Paul Murray of Hardyville.)
Julian Dargan “is one of the sweetest and kindest students,” said Fleet. “He taught me lessons on kindness that are just as important if not more so than the academic ones.”
In third grade when it was Native American dress up day, Madeline Hurd brought her outfit to school and changed in the bathroom. “When she came out she asked, ‘How do I look?’ ” She had drawn all over her face with permanent marker.
Fleet recalled how Grayson Shelton, who died recently, was the official greeter at the main entrance of MHS. “We had to remind him every day that when the bell rang to get to class” because he was a student.
In conclusion, Fleet told the Class of 2021, “Thank you for giving me the best job in the world. When I come here every day it’s not work, it’s pure joy, excitement and love and I have to say you’re the fountain of youth, you keep me young and I love you all. Congratulations!”
In his welcoming address, salutatorian Linton Robins told his classmates to “Hold on to those that you love, face challenges head on and be the best version of yourself.” (Salutatorian Linton Robins will attend Virginia Tech. He is the son of John and Sharon Robins of Deltaville.)
Valedictorian Sara Murray delivered the valedictory address and emphasized how much her fellow students had taught her. “I learned a lot more from the people in the eight rows in front of me than I have learned from anyone in my life. They have been my greatest teachers, life models, and motivators. I wouldn’t be standing on this stage as your valedictorian without being pushed so hard by the competition that you all provided.”
Valedictorian Murray thanked several friends specifically, sharing stories of their support, and showed her appreciation to the entire Class of 2021. “I would be here for another four years if I thanked every single one of you personally for the tremendous impact that you have had on my life,” said Murray. “In your own way, all of you have made your mark on me, and on this school, by simply existing, showing up, and being yourselves. The handprints that we put on the wall in the cafeteria don’t begin to cover the mark that you all are leaving on this place, and on me, and I cannot thank you enough for the kindness that you have shown me.”
The valedictorian is the student with the highest grade point average (GPA) and the salutatorian is has the second highest GPA.
Kindness
Murray spoke emotionally about one of the kindest people she has ever met — Grayson Shelton, who died during the school year. “Every day of my junior year he would come sit with me and a couple of other classmates in the library because he just loved to talk to people, no matter the topic, or what class he was supposed to be in.
“Grayson Shelton was the best peer teacher that I have ever had, simply because he didn’t go out of his way to say, ‘Watch how I do this act of service’, or ‘I need recognition.’ He always did acts of service that no one knew about out of the kindness of his heart, and never thought twice about it.
“He never wanted special attention, or an award for all of the times he asked me or my fellow classmates if they were okay when they seemed a little off. He just wanted to make people feel good. I want to thank Grayson for the impact that he has had on this school, and soon there will be a bench in the athletic complex donated by the class of 2021 in his memory to further thank him. It will read ‘In Loving Memory of Grayson M. Shelton, Our Best Friend and the Kindest Soul. You will always have a seat here. Class of 2021.’ ”
I would like to also thank his parents, Mark and Susan Shelton, for raising that great friend, and for loaning him out to us, so that we could enjoy the company of the old soul in a young man’s body. His memory will forever live on in all of us.”
A few minutes later, Mrs. Shelton walked across the stage to accept her son’s diploma.
Murray thank MHS principal Susan Fleet “for loving all of us so fiercely. You have been holding us up through the hardest year to be an educator and principal, and you have done it with such grace. Your heart for the students in this school and for the betterment of our community through education does not go unnoticed, and I, along with my classmates are so grateful for the impact that you have had on our lives. You made coming to school, even on the worst days, fun.”
In conclusion, Sara Murray told her classmates, “If you take anything away from what I have said here, I hope that this is what you remember. Learning doesn’t just begin and end in the classroom. It is a lifelong commitment to attempting to understand the world just a little bit more each day, and turning every moment into an experience to learn from. I hope that in your next adventures, you will be surrounded with every day teachers that teach you just as much as you all have taught me.”
At 11:11 a.m. on June 5, 2021, the students were pronounced graduates by Peter Gretz, superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools, who had told them earlier, “I’m proud of all you’ve done and will do.”
Their mortar board hats were thrown into the air, celebrating the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
