Graduation day is on the horizon for 1,305 seniors in Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ seven high schools.
Another 56 have already graduated in ceremonies at private and homeschools.
All but one of the Rowan-Salisbury schools will hold commencement exercises in Keppel Auditorium on Catawba College’s campus. The exception is Carson, which will be the first to distribute diplomas in its ceremony in the school gym.
Jessie Carson High
Carson High School’s 172 candidates for graduation will be the first to receive their diplomas in a 2 p.m. Thursday ceremony.
Academic speakers will be Jake Smith, Ashley Golden, Kendrick Miles, Dylan Horne and Ronald Hayward.
Junior marshals are Andrew Basinger, Bronwynne Curtindale, Kayla Hamby, Matt Heffelfinger, Andrew Hebert, Sydney Houghton, Josh Michael, John Mullis, Ethan Overcash, Kayla Overcash, Darren Safrit, Aaron Walser, Tim Sizemore and Casey Wellmon.
Henderson High
Henderson Independent High School’s ceremony follows at 5 p.m. Thursday. The school expects to graduate 44 students.
Student speakers will be Christy Gainey, valedictorian; Amber Kiros, salutatorian; and Jeremy Little, special student speaker.
South Rowan High
South Rowan High School’s 241 seniors will receive their diplomas at 8 p.m. Thursday in the final ceremony of the day.
Student speakers will be Franklin Caldwell II, Kristian Doty, Olivia Jacobs and Lane Turbyfill.
Junior marshals are Addison Corriher and Seth Walker, co-chiefs, and Alexandra Caldwell, Jamie Dabbs, Brooke Fields, Lindsay Frye, Whitney Haywood, Tyler Hoke, Keely Jones, Natalie Lyles, Tyler Morgan and Chase Stamey.
North Rowan High
Friday’s first ceremony will be at 9 a.m. for North Rowan High School, which has a total of 116 graduates. Eight graduated in January.
Graduation speakers will include Rodney Bass, principal; Natalie M. Nichelson and N. Felicia Trexler, senior class officers; Savannah H. Larimore, valedictorian; and Faith E. Howell, salutatorian.
Junior marshals are Maria E. Adkins, Patrick L. Bost, Zachary H. Buchholz, Taylor K. Edds, Laura D. Holland, Jessica L. Honeycutt, Julie Kriska, Katherine R. Thompson, Beatriz G. Velazquez, Lucy A. Wilson, Alexandrea N. Worthy and Joshua G. Young.
East Rowan High
East Rowan High School’s 290 seniors will receive their diplomas in a noon Friday ceremony.
Paul Fisher will be the guest speaker. Student speakers include Candis Shiflett, senior class president, and Katelyn McCombs and Danielle Lloyd, student body co-presidents. The class valedictorian and salutatorian will also speak, but names pending final grades were not available.Junior marshals are Haley Barrier, Coleton Boone, Jared Davis, Paige Driver, Emily Graczyk, Samantha Morgan, Jamie Mullen, Meaghan Puckett, Kay Rufty, Jacob Shuping and Kelsey Stover.
West Rowan High
West Rowan High School’s 4 p.m. Friday ceremony will see diplomas presented to 267 seniors.
Commencement speakers will include Taylor James, senior class president; Olivia Izze, Student Government Association president; and Katie Cox and Mackenzie Heglar, academic speakers.
Junior marshals are Taylor Michelle Bryan, Dustin Delane Davis, Nicole Adelaide Emerson, Morgan Paige Grissom, Alexandra Blair Grubb, Marco Shane Gupton, Rachel Helen Hopler, Jon Brantley Horton, Claire Elizabeth Kistler, Christine Rose Lazina, Melani Rose Lippard, Wallis Faith McElroy, Philip Jason Miclat, Salime Rodriguez, Chelsea Sky Sullivan and Sara Seay Wilson.
Salisbury High
The final commencement ceremony will be for Salisbury High School’s 175 seniors at 8 p.m. Friday.
Student speakers will include Paul Grant, senior class secretary; Quatavia Becton, senior class vice president; Luis Andrade and Susan Wear, salutatorians; Lindsay Davis, senior class president; Ivy Brisbin, valedictorian; and Maria Tonseth, senior class treasurer.Junior marshals are Suncica Dragas, Kirsten Myerhoeffer, Laurel Loeblein, Garrison Stevens, Shea Comadoll, Remi Moore, Elizabeth Johnson, Emily Dean, Alexander Hunter, Carrie Teter, Michelle Nguyen, Seth Morris, Christina Miller, Hayley Mikkelson, Hunter Fisher, Steven Burges, Umber Siddiqui and Devereaux Swaim.