Graduation set for Friday

About 225 graduates will take their last steps at Pike County High School. Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. and graduation ceremonies begin at 8 p.m. ’For the safety and comfort of all guests, balloons, artificial noisemakers, amplification devices, fireworks, umbrellas, alcoholic beverages and smoking/electronic vaporizers are not allowed in the stadium,’ said PCHS principal Mike Maddox. Salutatorian Miranda Rawlins and Valedictorian and STAR Student Jordan Peeples will address their peers during the ceremony.In case of inclement weather, graduation ceremonies will be delayed in one hour increments. If weather persists, the ceremony will be delayed until the following day at 10 a.m. In order to participate in graduation ceremonies, seniors must have paid all outstanding obligations and completed all state and local requirements. For the Class of 2015, this means minimum of 24 credits – an all-time high for any PCHS graduate.’This year we have the largest number of Honor Graduates,’ said Maddox. ‘They will wear gold cords with their caps and gowns during the ceremony. For the first time ever, seniors who have completed a state-recognized pathway will be recognized with their own pathway-specific cord. The pathways include Advanced Academic (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages), Fine Arts (Choral, Band, Drama, Art), or Career Technical Agricultural Education (Business, Nursing, Education, Agriculture). Our goal is to have 100% of our graduates completing at least one pathway during high school.’