By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The Union City High School Class of 2022 took a “victory lap” this morning.
Keeping with tradition, seniors who’ll graduate Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium began their final day on campus by donning their caps and gowns and touring the halls of UC Elementary School, where most of their journeys to the present started.
The annual stroll before an adoring student body that cheered and waved purple and gold pom-poms was even more-special for 18 students who started their education experience in the Union City Schools’ Pre-K program 14 years ago.
The 101 graduating seniors then attended their final Awards Day ceremony, received their yearbooks, and participated in graduation ceremony practice in preparation for their big night Saturday.
Valedictorian Sara Ullrich will deliver the keynote address to her classmates and special guests Saturday night. Class President Olivia Tanner is the 2022 salutatorian and will also speak.
Principal Jacob Cross will present the class, and school board members Bedford Dunavant, Rev. Curtis McLendon and chairman Karl Ullrich will award diplomas before Director of Schools Wes Kennedy confers the graduates.
Members of the cumulative Top 10 in addition to Ullrich and Tanner include Kobe Terrell, Hope Kennedy, Annie Wade, Kamia Cross, Daniel Edwards, Elizabeth Lattus, Gabby Jones and Silas Petty.
A record $4.9M in scholarships has been awarded to the Class of 2022. Twelve graduates have scored 30 or above on the ACT, with more than half the class making 21 or better on the test to earn Hope Scholarship money. The cumulative class ACT average is 21.6.
There will be 26 to graduate from the school’s prestigious Magnet School.
Twenty-eight students in the Class of 2022 earned the Presidential Award of Excellence, with 24 graduates recipients of the Presidential Award of Achievement. There will be 20 students honored with State Distinction. (see attached lists)
Plans are for gates to be locked at 7:55 p.m., with no one allowed entry into War Memorial Stadium after that time. Family and friends of the graduates will sit in the stands this year, a change from the recent past. Each graduate was given 19 tickets to distribute to their families.
In case of rain, the ceremonies will be moved across the street to the UC Civic Auditorium. Only eight of the 19 tickets given to each graduate can be used due to limited seating. If the event is moved inside, the UC Schools Facebook page (Union City Schools – Home of the Golden Tornadoes) will live stream the ceremonies.
Updates on any weather-related changes will be posted on tornadotouch.net, and the school’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter.