DOUG LOYER Special to the Times Fort Frye High School seniors in the auditorium before going to the gymnasium for the commencement.

BEVERLY — Ninety-one Fort Frye High School Cadet seniors received their diplomas as they walked across the gymnasium stage Saturday in Beverly.

The newly air-conditioned gymnasium was packed as friends and relatives of the graduates were on hand to show support for them.

“Bitter-sweet” seemed to be the description most often used as the hard-working, friendly classmates concluded their time at Fort Frye and are now planning to blaze their own trail in the world.

“I know these kids very well and they are a great class,” said principal Andrew Schob.

“This graduation is a little different,” he said. “I have a son that’s part of this graduating class so I get to be a parent and a principal in today’s commencement. It’s a different perspective for me this time.”

This year, Fort Frye’s graduating class has three valedictorians; Kasey Buchanan, Brendon Huck and Colby Sleek.

“This is something that I really looked forward to and I think that we all have prepared and worked hard for,” said Buchanan who will be attending Elmhurst College in Illinois in the fall to study occupational therapy. “We’re a hard working group and I’m really excited to see where everyone goes and what they make of themselves. It’s pretty exciting, but bitter-sweet.”

Huck agreed that the occasion was bitter-sweet because high school was been a really fun time for them but there are a lot of things for them to look forward to. Huck said many of them have been together since kindergarten and grew up together. But he said he is looking forward to going to Muskingum University where he will study math and education and play football.

Sleek, who was also Class Vice President, will be going to Ohio University in the honors program and study mechanical engineering.

“This is exciting to see the next chapter happen, but it’s a little sad to see this chapter close because these have been the people I have been to school with,” said Sleek. “Some of us have been together for the past 13 years. We were a pretty close class so it’s kind of sad to see them go.”

Fort Frye Senior Class President Jace Ward, who will attend Malone University, said he was a little nervous. He commented that is was one of those things that you knew was going to happen eventually, but now the time is suddenly here. Ward said they have all worked hard to get to this point.

“A lot of us have our futures planned,” stated Ward. “We’re ready for the next chapter.”

Derek Joy, who was voted “Best Dressed” in his class, felt like it about time, but at the same time, sort of didn’t want it to end. He will continue on to Ohio Valley University to major in business administration.

Braden Lipot said he was the senior that liked to crack a joke to entertain his classmates.

“It was nice being goofy with a close knit group of senior classmates,” admitted Lipot. “I’m going to miss my friends, but I’m ready to move on. I plan to go to Ohio University and study civil engineering.”

Austin Baumgartner received the “Most School Spirited” award this year. He said the whole student section at Fort Frye contributes to the school spirit and everyone does their part. Baumgartner, plans to attend Marietta College this fall and major in broadcasting and journalism.

“This senior class is like family, we share a bond together,” smiled Baumgartner. “It’s been an amazing year that flew by.”

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Fort Frye High School Class of 2019

Class Motto: “Chase your dreams but always know the road that will lead you home again.”

Class Flower: White Rose

Class Colors: Silver and Turquoise

Class Song: “Somewhere in the Middle” Cody Jinks