SDOC Summer Graduates recognized

Summer graduation ceremonies were held earlier this month to recognize the newest high school graduates from Oconee County.  “We had 19 students who graduated this summer.  Two of them graduated in a program we have with Tri-County Technical College called Connect to College, which is actually where they finish their high school diploma and they work on an associate’s degree at the same time and then we had 17 students who received their regular high school diploma.  We had a celebration last Tuesday night in which we got to had them their diplomas and we are extremely proud of the latest graduates of Oconee County.” This is the fourth summer ceremony to be held by the district.  The commencement exercises were held in the auditorium of Walhalla High School.  Summer graduates include students from three of the district’s high schools, explains Oconee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Lucas.  “That diploma they receive is just like any other diploma but I will tell you some of those kids are actually finishing early.  It is a more personal graduation, the principal made remarks about each of the students and the two young ladies from Seneca High who were there at the ceremony were actually graduating a year early and the principal got a chance to brag on them.  Then of course the principal at Walhalla and also West-Oak High School got to share words about their students who were graduating and I am so proud because we had some teachers there who really pushed those kids, prodded those kids and it was a time to say thank you to the families for not giving up, finishing a getting that diploma and we are extremely proud of those 19 new graduates.” West-Oak and Walhalla High had the largest number of summer graduates this year.