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  • Tim Suggs, center, receives his diploma from principal Lisa Cooke, while teacher, Leshaun Jenkins looks on.

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  • SouthWest graduates listen attentively during their commencement exercise Saturday morning.

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  • Yaneth Aduelo-Guzman, turns her tassel during North Edgecombe graduation Friday night.

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June 12, 2012

High school ends for 456 students

Staff Writer Calvin Adkins

PRINCEVILLE — When Tim Suggs name was called during Tarboro High School 2012 graduation Friday night on the school’s football field, applause and chants filtered the air and echoed as far as the shopping center across the street.

Suggs was one of 456 Edgecombe County Public School high school seniors who received their 2012 diplomas either Friday or Saturday.

North Edgecombe commencement exercise which was held in Keihin Auditorium on the campus of Edgecombe Community College, was also on Friday while SouthWest Edgecombe seniors walked across the stage Saturday morning on their school football field.

Throughout the county, no other senior received the ovation that Suggs was given. His ovation stemmed from the audience apparently showing their gratitude to him for his perseverance to complete high school.

Four months prior to graduation, Suggs was in a car accident that paralyzed him from his waist down. A friend riding with him was killed an another one of his passengers’ friends was critically injuried.

After extensive rehab, Suggs returned back to school in a wheelchair. Suggs persevered and earned his high school diploma. He asked Leshaun Jenkins, a teacher and coach at Tarboro High School, to push him across the stage. When they reached their pinnacle, the entire Tarboro Class of 2012 stood up.

“When we got up there all I could hear was a loud applause,” Jenkins said. “Knowing what this kid had been through, it was a great feeling for me.”

It probably was a great feeling for Tarboro valedictorian, Sara Grady also. Grady used the acronym YOLO, to tell her classmate don’t be afraid to try things because, “You only live once.” At the end of her speech she asked principal Lisa Cooke to do one more thing for the Tarboro High School 2012 graduates. “Give us our diplomas,” she said to the amusement of her classmates.

In the confines of the air conditioned auditorium, North Edgecombe’s 78 graduates was told to “Do the right things,” by the National Mother of the Year, Ernestine. W. Allen, of Washington D.C., the Warriors’ keynote speaker. She told the graduates that, Teacher open doors but you must enter by yourself.”

North’s valedictorian, Morris Armstrong, also gave a speech.

“We have the heart and the Warriors pride to do anything that we set our mind to,” Armstrong said. “We are the 2012 class of North Edgecombe High School and we’re going to let everybody know that. People will remember this class for everything that we have accomplished and everything that we’re going to do.

“As I look around, I see much ambition and potential waiting to be unleashed. I consider this as being the greatest class of Warriors ever.”

SouthWest’s valedictorian, Taylor Webb, also left her class with inspirational words and a challenge.

“Instead of simply grabbing a pencil to map out the rest of your life, I want each of you to draw a circle instead because it stands for so much more,”  Webb said. “Leave a lasting impression on the road around you. Take the circle and write a new chapter to the book of your life that no one will ever forget. No matter what anyone tell you, you are the only person who control the rest of your life.

“Congratulation to the class of 2012. Like so many of you, I believe that this is the best class that SouthWest has ever seen.”

There were 183 students to graduate from SouthWest while 146 walked across the stage at Tarboro and 78 at North Edgecombe.

Jenkins said, as teachers they are sometime encouraged by students.

“We always talk about the difference, we as teachers and coaches make in the lives of kids, but we never talk about the difference kids make in the lives of teachers,”  Jenkins, said. “Had it not been for some of these kids, I honestly think I would have been gone a long time ago. Congratulation Class of 2012.”



 

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  • Edgecombe Events May 17

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

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Tarboro's 2012 Christmas Parade


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