Williamstown graduates
One of the best classes, principal says
WILLIAMSTOWN- Despite the rain, 105 seniors walked across the stage to get their high school diplomas Thursday during Williamstown High School’s 108th commencement ceremony. Just after the class of 2017 took their seats at the start of the ceremony, a light drizzle made those attending open umbrellas but that didn’t stop friends and family from filling the bleachers on the football field of Williamstown High School.
Williamstown Principal Pat Peters proudly said that the class of 2017 had 30 students graduating with a grade point average above 4.0 and 60 students graduating with honors.
“This is a wonderful class and one of the best classes to come through Williamstown,” he said. “The class has character and they’ve really come together as a class throughout the year on numerous occasions.”
Peters also said this class earned around $1.7 million in scholarships.
There were four valedictorians: Iram Kingson, Victoria Clark, Nellie King and Siara Deem. Clark said she is attending Kent State University in the fall and majoring in interior architecture. During her speech, she asked her classmates to challenge themselves.
“I’d like to challenge you all to go out and make the rest of your life the best of your life,” she said. “It’s surreal we are graduating. It seems like it all goes so fast but we should be proud of ourselves.”
Darren Hastings, of Williamstown, said he’s excited to be attending West Virginia University in the fall to study forensic accounting.
“This is a huge weight off my shoulders to finally graduate. We’ve worked so hard,” he said. “I’m really going to miss football but I’m excited to move on.”
Senior Adesa Williams held back tears thinking about leaving high school.
“It’s bittersweet, honestly,” she said. “I’m sad it’s coming to an end but really happy to start the next chapter.”
Williams said she plans to attend Davis and Elkins College in the fall to study elementary education so she can continue to be involved in schools.
Graduate Chandler Boyles said he’s taking a different route after high school and will go directly to work.
“I’ll probably do landscaping but I’ll stay busy,” he said. “It’s pretty cool we are graduating and I’m really happy to see my friends graduate alongside me. I’ll miss high school but probably not that much.”
At a glance
About Williamstown’s class of 2017
≤ Number of graduates: 105.
≤ Number of students graduating with a GPA above 4.0: 30.
≤ Number of graduates with honor chords: 60.
Source: Williamstown Principal Pat Peters.