38 seniors receive diplomas at Cape Hatteras Secondary School

Thirty-eight seniors received their diplomas at Saturday evening’s graduation ceremony at Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies.

Friends and family members of the graduates filled William P. Dillon Gymnasium on a hot and humid night as thunderstorms threatened but didn’t rain on the parade of the Class of 2015.

The Cape Hatteras Secondary School Graduation Band, directed by Sean McCroskey, played a prelude and opened the ceremony with the traditional and familiar “Pomp and Circumstance.” The U.S. Coast Guard presented colors, and senior Kally Brooke Ivey led the Pledge of Allegiance. Seniors Christian Everrett Meekins and Kathryn Miller Tawes welcomed the audience.

Valedictorian Britni Nicole Rausch and Salutatorian Violet Patrice Krawchuk both made remarks, and the guest speaker was Karla Jarvis, guidance counselor and 2015 class sponsor.

Principal Beth Rooks gave the Citizenship Award to graduating senior Myra Elizabeth Caldwell.

Dare County Superintendent of Schools Sue F. Burgess declared the seniors graduates, and Courtney Elizabeth Day, president of the class, presided over the turning of the tassels.

The class mural was created by Kate Tawes, Violet Krawchuk, Kally Ivey, Caroline Howell, Alex Alvarez and Courtney Day. The slide show was put together by Kate Tawes.

Senior Zachary Tyler Warren gave the closing remarks.  But before he did, Mary Joy McDaniel took to the stage with her guitar and got a rousing ovation for her performance of her original song, “Hometown,” which was adopted as the official song of the Class of 2015.

Here’s a sampling of Mary Joy’s — and the Class of 2015’s — message:

“Living in this little town, you do
what you can, Neighbors, Family
we’re all the same,
we’re just friends, and if we stick together we can go real far.
It’s the little things in life
that make you who you really are.”

Click Here To See The Slide Show
Click Here To See Scholarship Awards