Shyanne Allaire gestures to the crowd as she enters the Adrian High School gym on Sunday, May 27, for graduation ceremonies. She was salutatorian for the class of 2018. (The Enterprise/Les Zaitz)
ADRIAN — Kevin Purnell, Adrian School District superintendent, on Sunday gave his last formal advice to 25 students he’s coached, taught, or counseled for years.
“Dream big,” he said, “and be patient.”
He joshed the graduating seniors about today’s environment of the cell phone, where people never seem to be out of touch, where everyone is in a hurry.
But no doubt the graduates seated before him in the Adrian High School gym were antsy for him to wrap up.
There followed the presentation by the senior class officers, then the speeches by salutatorian Shyanne Allaire, followed by valedictorians Sundee Speelmon and Morgan Bayes.
Finally, the truly important moment — the individual walk onto stage. Each graduate shook hands, grabbed a diploma, and stood before an attentive crowd while they listened to someone read their narratives.
Of those, five went through the Adrian school system from start to finish. Two graduates, twin brothers Daniel and Noah Price, represented the fourth generation to earn an Antelope diploma.
And with the pop of confetti guns, the ceremony was over and 25 teenagers walked into the next stage of their lives.
