Photo by Ken Odor
Sean Haikeem Peyton Snead waves his diploma last Friday night at the Goochland High School Class of 2010 graduation.

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On a hot, humid Friday night, almost 200 students received their diplomas on the football field at Goochland High School.

After each student was provided with a welcome bottle of water pre-placed by maintenance staff (and Athletics and Activities Director Bryan Gordon) under their chairs, the soon-to-be graduates heard brief remarks from principal Francie Ball as well as Valedictorian Nathan Longest and Salutatorian Courtney Beasley.

A somber note was struck when Ball presented an honorary diploma to the mother of Darius Athey, who was killed in Richmond almost one year ago. He was scheduled to graduate with the 2010 class.

Ball also asked the 2010 class and those present to remember one of the school’s teachers, Helen Thurston, who passed away in April.

Musical interludes were provided by the Goochland Chorus and the Goochland Band.

Another highlight of the evening was a dance performance by Damion Carroll and Younteen Kenney.

When it came her turn to speak, Salutatorian Beasley peppered her remarks with humor.

“We’re the best high school within 20 miles,” she said, then noted that GHS is the ONLY high school within 20 miles.

After high school, graduates will need three things, said Beasley: money, a place to live and something to do with themselves.

She offered advice on all three, saying fellow seniors would back up their peers in their decisions to a point, but added, “We will not bail you out of jail.”

“Best of luck to all of you and don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” she said.

Valedictorian Nathan Longest advised the seniors to follow their hearts in choosing their life’s work.

“The future is not something you walk into, it’s something you create,” said Longest.

Despite the many challenges the class may face, war, recessions and oil spills, Longest said he was confident his class could handle them, as long as they remember to rely on a sense of humor to get them through. In that spirit, he closed his remarks with some sage but humorous advice.

“Don’t say anything bad about anyone before walking a mile in their shoes,” he advised. “Because then you’ll be a mile away from them and you’ll have their shoes.”

And so the evening drew to a close, as the 198 seniors crossed the dais to receive their diplomas before tossing their mortarboards into the air and leaving the field to greet family and friends.

“It was pretty awesome, I must say,” said graduate Laura Meadows, as she hugged friends after the graduation and talked about beach week and college in the fall.

“I even threw my hat in the air.”

Photos by Ken Odor
Left: Laura Paige Meadows gets a congratulatory hug from friend Ashley Neterer after graduation.

Photos by Ken Odor
Right: Desmond Dontre Athey hugs School Board Member Ivan Mattox before receiving his diploma Friday night.