BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The 207 graduates of the senior class of 2021 from Buckhannon-Upshur High School will have their official graduation ceremony at 6 p.m., Friday, May 21, 2021 at Freal “Red” Crites Football Stadium. Eighteen members of the class of 2021 graduated earlier in February.
“We have come a long way, but not half as far as we will go” is the motto selected by the members of the graduating class.
The three senior class members selected by their peers to speak are Kennedy Samargo, Samuel Squires and Iris Tenney. Music will be provided by the Buckhannon-Upshur High School Band under the direction of Garrett Friend, and music selections from Buckhannon-Upshur High School “Sound Waves” directed by the choral director, Jeremiah Smallridge. Also, accompaniment with the “Sound Waves” will be Sharon Walton, Jonathan Pollock, Garrett Friend, Brandon Williams, Chelsea Humphrey, and Leah Crihfield. The Star-Spangled Banner will be sung by Elizabeth O’Neill. Principal, Jonathan Pollock will be the master of ceremony for this event.
The diplomas will be presented by the administration, Upshur County Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Sara Stankus and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Debra Harrison. Senior Class President Margaret Nolte will give the closing remarks and have the graduates traditional move the tassel to the left side of the graduation cap.
The scoreboard will display the senior class members during the time of receiving the diploma. If for some reason weather conditions will not allow us to have this ceremony on the field Friday evening, Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 10 a.m. will be our rain date. If both days look as if the conditions would not permit graduation on the field, then graduation would be held in the Buckhannon-Upshur Gymnasium.
One of the top students of the Buckhannon-Upshur Class of 2021 is John “Jake” Bohman. Throughout his four years at BUHS, he has always maintained straight A’s while taking honors and Advanced Placement coursework. He is involved in several student activities, including the Youth Leadership Association, Math Field Day, and Student Council, where he currently serves as the Student Body President. He is also a member of Boy Scout Troop 100 and recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in scouting. John was selected as the Frank Feola Leadership Award for outstanding skills of leadership in his school, community and a student representative at Upshur County Board Meetings. In addition, He is a member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Scholar Finalist.
This August, he will be attending Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where he plans to major in either history, economics, or political science. He plans to become a lawyer, but he is not entirely committed at this time. He is very grateful for all the help he has received from his teachers and family throughout his educational journey, especially during the pandemic. It is their help that made him who he is today.
Kayla Wagner is also one of the top students of Buckhannon-Upshur High School graduating class of 2021. Throughout her years at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, she has maintained above a 4.0 while cheerleading, volunteering, and having a job. This was not easy, but with hard work, the constant support from her family and friends, and perseverance, anything is possible. Her family has been the biggest inspiration to me during high school. They pushed her to excel in everything she did and never let her give up on her dreams. The staff at Buckhannon-Upshur have also greatly impacted her life. There are so many teachers who have inspired her to dream big while continuously, offering support with scholarships, college applications, tutoring, etc. Next year, she will be attending West Virginia University as a first-generation college student and member of the Honors College where she will major in Biology to become an anesthesiologist. Kaya is looking forward having new experiences but will forever be grateful for the high school years and all those who helped her progress along the way.
Buckhannon-Upshur High School 2021 tentative graduates:
Donovan J. Abel, Emily Elizabeth Adams, Nathan C. Allen, Jada Sky Anderson, Christopher M. Arbogast, Elijah Arbogast, Ashlynn Bailey, Benjamin Dale Ball, Zachary Barcus, Sarah Bean, Taylor M. Black, John K. Bohman II, Ryan A. Bosley, Rebel Alan Lee Bowman, Gracie Marie Boyles, Austin M. Brock, Jeremy Todd Brown, Ariah Brown, Brooklyn T. Bryant, Brier J. Burgess, James C. Burnside, James Charles Dewey Burr, Logan Cain, Bailey Nicole Carpenter, Brandi Carpenter, Cheyanna M. Carpenter, Graci Erin Carr, Phillip Carr, Patrick D. Casada Jr., Kellie Casto, Atayllia Chapman, Brooklynn Paige Chidester, Savannah L. Chipps, Jackson F. Clark, Damien Claypool, Kaleigh Clickman, David A. Coe, Lexus Sierra Coffman, Alexis M. Cogar, Hunter L. Cohen, Michael Paul Coleman, Abigail “Daniel” J. Colthart, Elizabeth Cool, Dylan Cornett, William T. Courtney, Leah Crihfield, Alexis Makiah Crowell, Kameron Tyler Currence, Carter Chase Curry, Kali Grace Curry, Kessa Lee Curtis, Autumn Cutright, Rocky Cutright, Vincent Paul Dahman, Ashleigh E. Damon, Brendan Robert Daughtery, Gavin Daughtery, Lillian Davis, Alexandria A. Dean, Patricia Sue Dean, Troy C. Delaney, Olivia C. Douty, Emily H. Dowell, Frank Davisson Ellis, Cody Dale Farrar, Lane Jacob Fennell, Mary Danielle Fisher, Jadynce Reann Fultineer, Taylor Paige George, Hunter James Given, Tate B. Glover, Ashtyn Leann Goodman, Jordyn Leslie Goss, Aaron Grubb, Aneysia T. Halseth, Alisa Faith Harris, Harley Brook Harvey, Morgan Heatherly, Seth Paul Hensil, Hailey Hinchman, Tyler S. Hinkle, Layla Hite, Julius Hobbs, Angel Hoover, Waylon R. Hoover, Albert Howard, Atlee Howes, Garrett Paul Howes, Shelby Howes, Heather N. Humphrey, Braiden M. Hurst, Ryan Michael Hurst, Noah Parker Jordan, Irelynn Keigley, Noam G. Keith, Taylor Daisy Kelley, Byer Luke Ketterman, Jacob Nathaniel Kincaid, Brandon E. Landis, Brittany Landis, Kiley Landis, Ethan Lawrence, Tasha LeAnn Lahman, Laikelyn Jaide Leggett, Ethan Everett Linger, Sarah Elizabeth Linger, Kimberly Linville, Jadon Hugh Littler, Joshua Loudin, Zoe A. Loudin, Zachary T. MacMaster, Abagail Nicole McCartney, William L. McCauley, Alyssa S. McGee, Dakota McIe, Zakary Michael Lee Merriman, Kaleb Sean Messenger, Austin J. Metz, Leah Jo Moore, Kiley R. Mueller, Brianna Nicole Myers, Alayna Nicole Nesbitt, Alexis Anna Marie Noel, Kathryn L. Nolan, Margaret Elizabeth Nolte, Joshua Parker O’Keefe, Kaya M. Oldaker, Elizabeth G. O’Neill, Patrick D. O’Neill, Cody Orth, Breagan Warren Vincent Pearson, Breanna M. Perry, Timothy Jamin Perry II, Hayden Peters, Alexzander, G. Peterson, Garavin Posey, Hunter Andrew Posey, Shaelyn-Elizabeth C. Posey, Ashton C. Post, Larissa Potts, Maggie Queen, Madison Grace Reed, Lyndon G. Reiking, McKenzie Coy Reynolds, Taylor Nikole Rice, Blade Michael Riffle, Landon Riffle, Autumn Riley, Zachary Roberts, Lindsay Grace Robinson, Trevor Robinson, Maya Rowan, Joshua Gabriel Roylance, Emileigh Paige Ryan, Eulgoio Salazar, Yukaika Savanna Salazar, Kennedy Paige Samargo, Christopher Joe Samples, Jr., Isaiah T. Samples, Ivie Mae Shakespeare, Kiera Meghan Jean Shively, Madisyn Elizabeth Shores, Lilyanna Marie Shutler, Caleb Grant Sikarskie, Cameron Simmons, Kurtis Small, Benjamin J. Smith, Lucas Dakota Smith, Lucas Wesley Smith, Cameron Snider, Tailynn Jade Snider, Jimmie R. Sothen III, Olivia Grace Spencer, Samuel Crockett Squires, Brooke Streets, Garrett Kirk Summers, Elizabeth Louise Swift, Alisha Tenney, Georgina Fay Tenney, Iris Tenney, Lane Tenney, Audra Thacker, Zoe R. Thomas, Clinton Lee Thompson, Tyler N. Trayer, Ryder W. Tyson, Tanisha Michelle Vaughn, Robert S. Vaught, Kayla E. Wagner, Madison T. Wamsley, Jaiden Machell Watkins, Dalton Alan-Joseph Waugaman, Bradley Wade Weatherholtz, Ashley B. Westfall, Brittany D. Westfall, Zachary Dale White, Kaitlyn Haylee Williams, Richard Williams, Deven Wescott Wilson, Teagan W. Winemiller, James Paul Winters IV, Leon Allen Wyatt, Spencer Logan Wykoff, Sahsha L. Zickefoose, and Sheldon Zirkle.
