Commencement exercises to be held for 102 Friday

SARA ANNE REMSEN Valedictorian

Graduation exercises for 102 LCHS seniors will be held Friday, May 23, at Buddy Bufford Field, beginning at 8 p.m.

A highlight of commencement will be addresses delivered by Valedictorian Sara Anne Remsen and Salutatorian Kimber Kirkland.

Remsen has been in the top five percent of her class throughout high school, serving as an honor usher at commencement exercises last year.

At this spring's academic awards ceremony, the gifted scholar received the Senior Science, Social Studies, and Spanish Awards for having the highest cumulative averages in those subject areas over the past four years. She was also designated as a Farmers State Bank High Achiever for making over 1100 on the SAT.

During her years at LCHS, Remsen served as vice president of the Spanish Honor Society, vice president of the Senior Beta Club, and as the reporter for Student Council. She was also a member of the Lincoln County 4-H Club, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and the National Forensic League (NFL).

KIMBER KIRKLAND Salutatorian

Concerning other school activities, the valedictorian was crowned Miss LCHS in 2006 and served as a senior class representative on the 2007 Homecoming Court.

She was likewise voted "Best All Around," "Most Spirited," "Most Talented," "Most Stylish," and "Teacher's Pet" by the Class of 2008.

In addition, Remsen participated in the Governor's Honors Program in Valdosta during the summer of 2006, majoring in dance and minoring in math.

It is fair to say that dance is Remsen's passion. For the past 11 years, she has studied at the Augusta West Dance Studio, where she is presently a member of the studio's senior performing company and assists in teaching a dance class.

The valedictorian has also traveled throughout the United States as an apprentice member of the National Tremaine Dance Company, based in Los Angeles. In her role as an apprentice, she assists with workshops and performs in faculty dance exhibitions.

Closer to home, Remsen is credited with choreographing the LCHS Musical Theatre Department's production of "Beauty and the Beast" this past spring.

This summer, the talented dancer will participate in a week-long Dance Makers, Inc. workshop and competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as well as travel to Costa Rica and Orlando with the Tremaine Dance Company.

In the fall, Remsen plans to attend UCLA where she will major in applied mathematics and minor in dance. She will also continue her dance education with the Tremaine Apprentice Company and other studios and performing companies such as The Clifton Dance Project, The Edge, and Retter's Academy of Dance.

After college, she hopes to dance professionally.

The valedictorian is a member of Lincolnton United Methodist Church and is active in "River of Life," the church's summer missions program.

She is the daughter of Gail and Marcy Remsen of Lincolnton.

Salutatorian Kimber Kirkland is the daughter of Marcia and Perry Kirkland.

Like Remsen, she has been in the top five percent of her class throughout high school and served as an honor usher at commencement exercises last May.

At this year's academic recognition ceremony, Kirkland was named a Farmers State Bank SAT High Achiever and was awarded the Watson-Brown Scholarship. She has sat on the Watson-Brown Junior Board of Trustees for the past two years, presently serving as historian for the group.

The salutatorian has likewise received scholarships from the Rayle Electric Membership Corporation, Georgia College and State University, and the Georgia Electronic Life Safety and Systems Association.

During her high school career, Kirkland was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the Senior Beta Club, the FCA, the Lincoln County 4-H Club, and FBLA, placing third in Business Calculations at the region FBLA competition this year.

As a senior, she was named to the list of "Who's Who Among American High School Students;" she was also designated as the 4-H club's "Outstanding Teen Leader." In addition, she was voted "Most Dependable" by her classmates.

Concerning extracurricular activities, the accomplished scholar ran track for three years and works part time at Michelle Harrison's law office.

Moreover, she is a member of Loco Baptist Church, where she is active in the youth group and teaches in children's church.

In her spare moments, Kirkland enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking part in 4-H and community activities such as Relay for Life, and visiting historical landmarks.

Looking toward the future, the salutatorian has been accepted into the honors program at Georgia College and State University where she plans on majoring in biology, with the goal of becoming a teacher.

Along with the addresses delivered by Remsen and Kirkland, the commencement program will also include welcoming remarks given by Kitty Ball, president of the senior class, and the recognition of scholarship recipients.

Pianist Lynn Gay and the Senior Ensemble, under the direction of choral music teacher Carolee Hobbins, will provide music for the occasion. The ensemble will sing "Shannon's Song," written by Shannon Norman, a member of the Class of 2008.

Honor graduates for the Class of 2008 are: Kitty Ball, Janelle Dukes, Abigail Minor, Jazmon Dukes, Whitley Arrowood, Julie Bennett, Asonta Johnson, Hannah Crook, Shannon Norman, Tiquila Williams, Nikolas Spens, Kayla Crookham, Amy Dandron.

Sarah Herring, Kendrick Anthony, Will Gay, Taylor Goldman, Nicole Crook, Brooke Epps, Roger Boyle, Amanda Pruitt, Marlena Mason, Amy Boland, Austin Goldman, Christina Tankersley, Lizzy McKinney, Savannah Crook, and Brandon Giella.

The following juniors will serve as honor ushers for the ceremony: Kayla Lyons, Krishna Patel, Daniel McAlister, Amanda Scott, Amanda Gay, Amanda Broom, Garrett Matthews, Ashton Cartledge, Matilda Watson, Kashade Andrews.

Tabitha Rayner, Donnell Harris, T.J. Carani, Barbara Hill, Chase Bandy, Lena Turner, Cardelro Jones, Emily Wright, Shondez Harrison, Hillary Doss, Aldan O'Neill, Morgan Reese, Lindsey McWhorter, Miranda West.

Timothy Rutland, Amanda Gunby, Ashley Rivera, Lee O'Neill, Dalton Tankersley, Emily Diamond, Audriana Whimbush, Matthew Hanneman, Chris Leverett, Latoya Harris, James Williams, Major Elam, Benjamin Beggs, and Jeremy Mason.

On Sunday, May 18, the seniors were honored at a breakfast held at LCHS.

The welcome was given by Jeanie Smith, and the invocation was delivered by Coach Kevin Banks.

The guest speaker for the occasion was Jason LeRoy, the valedictorian and STAR Student for the LCHS Class of 1987, who is now a product engineer for the Eaton Corporation in Greenwood, South Carolina. He is the son of Barbara and Lamar LeRoy of Lincolnton.

The speaker was introduced by Marcella Goldman.

In addition to LeRoy's inspiring remarks, the seniors and their parents were also treated to a slide show titled "One Last Look," evoking memories of their senior year, produced by LCHS media specialist Jeanie Smith. The audience likewise enjoyed hearing anecdotes about the seniors and their years as students in the Lincoln County School System.

The senior class sponsors are Jeanie Smith, Kevin Banks, Howard Ellis, Marcella Goldman, Carolee Hobbins, Lee Robinson, Kathy Thomas, and LuAnn Beale.