25 Graduate from Piedmont Academy

Twenty-five students graduated from Piedmont Academy during a ceremony Saturday morning at the school.

A crowd of approximately 800-900 people viewed the 41st graduation ceremony at Piedmont Academy

The ceremony opened with Nina Blackshear giving the invocation. Salutatorian Lauren Mitchell made a plea to all seniors to utilize the knowledge gained at Piedmont and to never forget the special memories of this class over the years. Andie Lewis entertained the audience with a rendition of “Never Alone” by Lady Antebellum.

Valedictorian Matthew O’Brien expressed his thoughts on the futures of the class members by encouraging them to take the harder paths to achieve success. Headmaster Tony Tanner began the presentation of awards by honoring the valedictorian and the salutatorian.
Mrs. Suzanne Arena presented the Charlotte S. Crawley faculty scholarship to Lauren Mitchell. Mrs. Gayle Marsh honored Mary Ashlynn Dennis with the Grandparents’ Club Scholarship.
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The Jack H. Yearwood Scholarship is funded each year by the Yearwood family to recognize an outstanding senior. Last year’s recipient, Carter Greeson, a student at North Georgia College and State University, presented the Jack H. Yearwood Scholarship to senior class president Rhett Roberts.

Mrs. Cheryl Jacobs from the Monticello Woman’s Club saluted Jordana Pope with its scholarship. Mrs. Janet Jernigan presented Blake Hammock with the Turtle Cove Women’s Club scholarship. Matthew O’Brien received a four year scholarship to the University of Alabama; this was presented to him by Piedmont’s guidance counselor, Kelli Fain.

Leigh Aldhizer from Georgia Military College presented awards to the 10 graduates who have received college credit for six classes taken on campus at Piedmont through GMC’s ACCEL program. Students whose parents were Piedmont alumni were also recognized along with students who had been at Piedmont during their entire school years.
Dylan Collins and Jordana Pope received the Headmaster’s Awards, and Matthew O’ Brien and Lauren Mitchell received the Outstanding Senior Boy and Girl awards.

Dylan Collins thanked the faculty for its time and devotion; Carl Gonsalves-Berreiro expressed gratitude to the parents for their selfless patience and understanding throughout their lives. Sam Cleary gave special acknowledgements to people who had helped the seniors with graduation.

Mr. Tanner and Mitchell McEwen, chairman of the Board of Trustees, awarded diplomas to the following students: Nina Calissa Blackshear, Angelia Marie Brown, Dakota Scott Collins, Mary Ashlynn Beth Dennis, Carl Gonsalves-Barreiro, Austen Blake Hammock, Andria Taylor Lewis, Lauren Emily Mitchell, Timothy Alex Palmer, William Tanner Quinn, Rhett Patrick Roberts, Jessie Leigh Wagnon, Michael Andrew Berg, Morgan Mae Brooks, Samuel Arnold Cleary, Dylan Trucker Collins, Courtney Kathryne Dimsdale, Michael Alexander Hall, Dylan Ryley Hedrick, Rachel Rose Maletz, Matthew Augustine O’Brien, Loni Jordana Pope, Garrett Luke Richardson, William Kennon Roberts, and Destiny Jade Walker.

Angelia Brown sang “Whenever You Remember” by Carrie Underwood. Jordana Pope created a video from the class’ special moments, and the audience viewed the presentation. Rhett Roberts conducted the tassel ceremony in which the students officially became graduates. Angelia Brown and Andie Lewis led the audience in the singing of the Piedmont “Alma Mater.” The ceremony was closed by Mary Ashlynn Dennis who gave the benediction.

Savannah McGinnis was pianist for the event, and Gabe Hestad was the technical assistant. Ushers for the ceremony included juniors Samuel Bryson McGinnis, Davis Matthew Kimball, Jeremy Darren Wood, and Briana Rebecca Bailey. Mascots for the senior class were Brianna Mikayla Mitchell and Dylan Charles Pitts. Martha Mock coordinated the ceremony as the senior class advisor.