By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Neither the coronavirus pandemic nor a week-long threat of rain could stop the Union City High School Class of 2020 from making its appointed rounds.
Eighty-nine UCHS seniors were feted Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium, graduating both as scheduled and in front of many family members and closest friends under near-perfect conditions.
“The Class of 2020 is graduating during a global pandemic, but this will not define them,” UCHS Principal Jacob Cross told the large group in attendance, after citing countless accomplishments and memories made by the group during their four years in high school. “They will be defined by their grit and determination and by their good humor and competitive spirit.
“This class is full of exceptional young men and women who have carried the torch of UCHS with class and dignity for the last four years and they have maintained the ‘No Excuses’ attitude that we so firmly believe in.
“This is truly a special group of young men and women.”
Cross noted a handful of impressive statistics compiled by the group of seniors, including a number of academic accomplishments ‑- both as individuals and as a group. He recognized Magnet School graduates, Graduates of Distinction, Beta Club members, Honors graduates and Tennessee Scholars, among others.
The UCHS head administrator further detailed the class’s success by reciting several statistics, including a cumulative class ACT average of 21.49 and a Magnet School average of 29.67 on the ACT. Ten members of the group made 30 or better on the test and 54 percent of the class earned the Hope Scholarship (21 or better on the ACT or a 3.0 grade point average).
With some local scholarship money still to be determined, the class combined has already been offered more than $2.9M in scholarships. Fifty-six percent of those students plan to attend four-year colleges, while another 17 percent will head off to community college. Another 15 percent will enroll in vocational or training schools, while nine percent will join the work force and three percent have plans for the military.
The group’s numerous athletic and extracurricular accomplishments were highlighted as well, particularly a football state championship and 17 combined district or regional titles in numerous sports, along with success by both the award-winning band and cheerleading squads.
Additionally, the class collectively logged more than 3,600 community service hours.
Cross’s remarks followed brief addresses by Class President Caroline Conley, Salutatorian Davie Townes and Valedictorian Hudson Calfee – each of whom reflected on the journey, injected humor while reminiscing about relationships made among friends and teachers, and projected to the future.
Conley, who opened her remarks with prayer, noted the school’s existing “No Excuses” motto first, saying, “Excuses do not exist (at Union City High School).”
Townes gave the group food for thought by asking “Who knows, one of us could go on and become President and find a way to change the world for the better.” She then quoted noted painter and art instructor/ television personality Bob Ross, paraphrasing “Believe you can do it, because you can do it.”
Calfee smiled while admitting he leaned on Wiki How for his speech outline, but then turned serious when claiming, “We have our ‘No Excuses’ motto to guide us through the rest of our lives.”
He went on to say: “We all had our own interests, but this school united us in the fact that we are all Tornadoes.”
Before reading each of the graduates’ names and future plans, Cross closed his remarks with these words:
“Seniors, take the knowledge and experience gained at Union City High School and go live your lives to the fullest. We know you’ll make a tremendous impact on the world.”
UC Director of Schools Wes Kennedy summed up the evening and the multiple efforts of those who made it happen while many other schools had either postponed or chosen virtual such ceremonies.
“Tonight matters,” Kennedy said.
Band director Jason Deem then led all those in attendance in the school alma mater to close the ceremonies and set off the traditional cap-throwing exercise among the graduates.
Photos by Mike Hutchens.
