By: Shayla Terry

With glee and sadness, the Brantley High Class of 2017 savored their last bulldog moment and embraced adulthood.

Superindentent  Dr. Boyd English set the stage for the momentuous occasion by telling the students how important the life they have lived is and how to look toward the future.

Class salutatorian Alex Wilcox welcomed the audience and told everyone of the courage of her class.

“We have made it through just about every situation that people thought we wouldn’t stand here today,” Wilcox said.

Wilcox and several of her classmates have faced life altering situations. She has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, yet still lives a life full of  things she loved before her diagnosis.

Principal Kris Odom and class sponsor Lee Grosenbach awarded senior with special recognition for their accomplishments. Rawl Barksdale, Elizabeth Bush, Jacob Free, Jacob Grosenbach, Anna Hughes, Trey Lowery, Susannah Noblin, Aleyah Person, Alexis Petty, Ashlynn Rayborn, Grace Roberts, Dillion Senn, Katie Silva, Mary Strickland and Alex Wilcox were all recognized as honor graduates.

Jacob Grosenbach and Alex Wilcox were presented with the Good Citizenship Award for the class, while Dillion Senn was awarded for having perfect attendance throughout his senior year of high school.

2017 valedictorian Mary Strickland also addressed that the class of 2017 had made it through some tragic times to stand before the audience at that very moment.

“Our class really has had the most car wrecks,” Strickland said. “But, we loved each other through each tragedy.”

Strickland spoke of the spirit and perseverance of her classmates Alex Wilcox and Jermany Salter. Salter was in a possibly fatal car crash during the summer before the class’s junior year.

Stickland dropped tears while leaving her class with a bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and future. Then you will call me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.

Jacob Grosenbach closed the ceremony with a powerful reading before the singing of the Brantley High School alma mater, lead by athletic director Ashley Kilcrease.

The class shared one last beaming, precious moment by tossing their caps to the sky — as infinite as their bright futures.