28 seniors to receive diplomas this Friday

Twenty-eight Albany High School seniors will march into the AHS gymnasium Friday night, May 24, walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, stand to sing the Alma Mater together as a class one last time, and then step into their future.

Almost 100 scholarships, totalling more than $97,000 will be presented during the ceremony.

Commencement exercises are set to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the gym, with a reception afterwards at the Whitney Theatre.

Secondary principal Edward Morales said that the gymnasium doors will be unlocked at 5:30 p.m. on Friday for the 7:00 p.m. graduation.

Seating in the white chairs on the floor in front of the stage is once again reserved for immediate family members of the graduates. There will be a designated location for wheelchairs. 

Friday night’s traditional ceremony will begin with the senior class processional onto the stage.

Singing of the National Anthem, led by class member Braden Davis, will be followed by an invocation by class president Madison Wilkins. 

Morales will introduce class salutatorian Jillian Guinn and valedictorian Caroline Masters, who will deliver their addresses, followed by recognition of other honor students and a slide show presentation. There will also be a special presentation by Cisco College’s Linda Spetter.

Morales will then announce the scholarship winners, followed by the official presentation of the graduates. 

Superintendent Jonathan Scott will confirm the diplomas, which will be given by former Albany ISD board president Betsy Parsons, along with counselor Dee Dee Waggoner and Morales. 

Class vice president Cameron Dacus will lead the benediction.

The senior class, led by Caroline Masters, will sing the Alma Mater. 

Everyone is invited to attend the graduation cere-mony and the reception at the Whitney Theatre.

Scholarship Program

Organizations and foundations are giving at least 95 scholarships that will be announced during the commencement exercises. 

This year $97,550 in scholarship funding will be presented to members of the graduating class. 

Honor Students

Caroline Masters, daughter of Brian and Tami Masters, has been named as valedictorian for the Class of 2019. 

Jillian Guinn is salutatorian. She is the daughter of Robbin Guinn and Shea Guinn.

Honor students for the Class of 2019 are Haley Stewart, Christopher Rivera, Madison Wilkins, and Cutter Edgar.

Project Graduation

The new graduates of 2019 will gather at The Feed Store at 10:00 p.m. on graduation night, 30 minutes earlier than previously announced, to participate in the all-night non-alcoholic and drug-free annual Project Graduation.

Seniors and their parents conducted multiple fundraisers throughout the year to finance the party. Donations from businesses and individuals also helped with the funding.

The new graduates will be joined by the six junior ushers and usherettes, who are traditionally invited to the party.

The Albany Task Force has sponsored two $500 scholarships, one each for a boy and a girl, for several decades. The drawings for the annual scholarships will take place at the end of Project Graduation. 

Typically students must be present to be awarded any prizes or gifts, and they are not allowed to return if they choose to leave the party early.

There is one exception to that rule this year.

“Baseball players can leave early, as needed, to get enough sleep for their Saturday playoff game,” said Tisha Wilkins, one of the parent coordinators. “They will leave at whatever time Coach Fairchild tells them, and they cannot return. But they will still be qualified for all drawings and door prizes.”

Project Graduation ends at 5:30 a.m.