Rotary Program: 5/17/06

Program Chairperson: Janie Justice

Speaker(s): Valedictorian and Salutatorian Program

Each year the Rotary Club honors the students of the Pike County and Pikeville Independent Schools who have achieved the top ranking in their respective Senior Classes and have qualified for being Valedictorian or Salutatorian. The Superintendents of both school districts, Mr. Jerry Green of Pikeville Independent and Mr. Frank Welch of Pike County were recognized. Janie Justice, Supervisor of Pike County Schools, acted as Master of Ceremonies and called the Principal or Guidance Counselor from each school to come forward and allow each student to introduce themselves, the college or university they plan to attend, and the major area of study they plan to pursue. First, John Stratton, Principal of Pikeville High School, came forward and introduced Chase Childers as the Valedictorian and Khrisna Vyas as the Salutatorian. Then, each of the Pike County High Schools were called. Philip Haywood, Principal of Belfry High School, Counselor Ruth Marie Pauley and Mr. Todd Castle, a teacher, introduced Brianna Farley, Tiffany Flores, Rebecca Hatfield, Mary E. Johnson, Samantha Kline, Carly Marcum, Ciera Mills, Christina Poole, Amanda Reed, Erin Robinson, and Cullen Younger. Ralph Kilgore, Principal of East Ridge High School, introduced Stacy Michelle Cantrell, Heather Renea Coleman, Heather Lynn Darnell, Christopher Kyle David Fletcher, Earlene Rachelle Matney, Larry Pinion, Thomas Rollin Pinion, Mallory Elese Rose, Jonathan Vanover, Curtis Williams, and Adrienne Kendrick. Andy Dotson, Principal, or Darlene Bowling, Counselor, of Phelps High School could not be here today, so the students came forward and introduced themselves. They were Ashley Smith, Ashley Rife, Whitney Prater, and Mitchell May. Heather Burchfield and Valerie Slater, Counselors of Pike Central High School introduced Nathan Mills, Lindsay Weddington, Kayla Branham, Billie Renne Thompson, and Jade Simpson. Diana Compton, Counselor of Shelby Valley High School introduced Jeremy Kent Adkins, Stephanie Leann Biliter, Megan Leann Chaney, Kyang Marie Damron, Brittany Lea Deskins, Daniel Shane Hall, Sara Beth Ratliff, Lee McCade Riddle, Felicia Leann Roberts, Whitney Leann Robinson, Tyler Matthew Tackett, and Laurel Taylor.

At this point, Jerry Kanney came forward to challenge these young people with a charge for their future. He began by telling them that success is a journey and not a destination. They must first and foremost have goals and the determination to reach those goals. “Using the basic knowledge they have already acquired”, Jerry said, “they must now continue that pursuit of knowledge to greater heights with self-discipline, hard work, and desire.” Successful people create an action plan with a vision of that plan already working, and mark the steps in the right direction to “get it done”. Jerry said, “If you can perceive it, you can achieve it.” Then he cautioned them about getting discouraged when times of difficulty come or when they experience failure. He told them of the great American, Abraham Lincoln, who lost many elections from the ‘30's, ‘40's and ‘50's, only to be elected President of the United States in 1860. He also reminded them that the great baseball player, Babe Ruth, stuck out more times than he got a hit. “So”, he concluded, “Work hard, be patient, and be persistent, and good things will come to you.” He ended today’s meeting by asking all Rotarians to give these young people a rousing round of applause to congratulate them on their accomplishments. - JMC