By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The 2021 Class of Union City High School officially claimed victory over COVID-19 Saturday.
Every speaker at Saturday night’s graduation ceremony – from Class President Kylie McCadney to Salutatorian Dalton Bone to Valedictorian Leah Wisener – spoke glowingly of the perseverance that allowed the group of 86 seniors to not only survive the pandemic but thrive amid it.
Principal Jacob Cross provided the final affirmation.
“You did not let (the global pandemic) slow you down,” Cross said in his address.
“You maintained the ‘No Excuses’ attitude that we have here at Union City Schools.”
The top UCHS administrator went through a lengthy list of accomplishments and honors for the group, which was allowed ten guests apiece on the perfectly manicured War Memorial Stadium Field.
Collectively, the class earned more than $3.6M in scholarships and performed more than 4,000 community service hours. Sixty-two percent of the group will receive the Hope Scholarship.
Magnet School graduates had an amazing 27.95 average on the ACT, while the remainder of the class averaged 21.31 on the ACT, which is above the state average. Seven of the seniors scored 30 or higher on the test, and the group helped make Union City High School a National Beta Club School of Merit for four consecutive years.
Cross said 61 percent of the class would go on to a four-year college, with 15 percent attending community college. Around 16 percent of the graduates will attend vocational/technical schools, with seven percent entering the workforce. One percent will enter the mission field.
Athletic achievements by the Class of 2021 were also recognized, including 12 district championships, eight regional titles, a state football crown, and the opportunity to add to those accolades with a large field of participants in next week’s Spring Fling state championships.
Along with Wisener and Bone, the remainder of the Top 10 was recognized. The group included Ben McMillan, Tammy Huynh, Ben Martinek, Carter Walton, Gabriel Qualls, Neil Brown, Matthew Parr and Alexander Cox.
Each of the student speakers added personal touches with their respective deliveries after the class was ushered in by school administrators and board members under the traditional Pomp and Circumstances processional.
McCadney recalled her mother’s words as she is set to embark on the next leg of her education journey.
“Remember who you are and whose you are,” she recited.
Bone gave a touching reminder of his late mother, who passed away due to cancer his freshman year. He thanked several family members for their support during the challenging aftermath, in addition to his classmates and friends.
“She made me the person I am today,” he said. “I thank God for my faith and think it’s the most important part of life’s journey.”
Bone additionally said he believed he’d received the best public-school education that there is from Union City High School. He added that he was proud of the many challenges he and his classmates had overcome to make it as close to normal as possible.
“I leave my classmates with the challenge of looking at each day as a new opportunity.”
Wisener, the keynote speaker, imparted four important life pearls of wisdom to her classmates.
“Follow your heart. Your heart knows who you are,” she began. “Number-two: We are all important. Thirdly: Enjoy the little things in life. Do things that make you happy.
“And Number-four, Be proud. Every accomplishment deserves praise.”
After school board chairman Karl Ullrich and board member Dr. Wright Jernigan presented graduates with their diploma covers, Director of Schools Wes Kennedy accepted and confirmed the class before the tradition of singing the school alma mater and hat tossing afterward.
The remainder of UC Schools students will be dismissed for the final time this school year, mid-morning Tuesday.
