On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the seniors of Davie County High School gathered inside the high school’s gym, awaiting the moment they had worked toward for the past four years. In about an hour, they would be walking across the stage, officially becoming high school graduates. At about 8 AM, they line up to make their final walk to the War Eagle stadium, truly understanding the meaning of the phrase “Forever a War Eagle.”
Student Body President Brooklyn Lakey opened the ceremony with a speech where she welcomed all in attendance before congratulating her fellow classmates for their hard work, dedication, and resilience and acknowledging her sense of pride for all the achievements of the class of 2024. Lakey shared her thankfulness for the principal, Michael Pruitt, the school staff, all seniors, and the audience that came to celebrate the students taking an important step forward in their lives. The impact the teachers and many individuals in the audience have had on the graduating class has made them who they are today and who they are becoming. The senior class came together as students one last time, full of excitement and fear for what the future holds. Lakey ends her speech with a reminder to hold a piece of Davie County in their hearts forever.
As tradition each year at Davie High, the Senior Class President gets the opportunity to say a prayer of reflection. This year, Sam Froelich began the prayer by stating that today was a day of celebration of new beginnings. This last event of the school year may not be a Friday night football game or a homecoming pep rally, but Froelich felt more school spirit at this moment than ever before. Everyone has taken a different path to get to where they are today and will take a different path every day after this but at this time they are one. “We are one in love, one in fear, one in joy,” Froelich says. She prays that her peers continue to love and laugh as they do today, no matter where they end up. Even when the world throws curve balls, some tougher than others, she hopes each person knows who they have to resort to. Coming to a close, Froelich ends the prayer with hopes of blessings and remembrance of the love that Davie County has brought to each student.
The academic speaker for the class of 2024 was Sophia Brady, who shared her struggle to get an understanding of things until her sophomore year. She was aware of the need to work hard to maintain the grades she wanted but hadn’t yet realized what exactly her goals were. She eventually realized her actions would affect her future. She acknowledged that many incoming students worry that high school is entirely filled with worry about grades. While she noted she has had those moments, she emphasizes that what people actually remember most is the amazing people they met and the opportunities they were presented with. She says, “As this chapter of our lives begins to close, we will continue to keep these moments with us as we travel down different avenues.” The final piece of advice Brady gives is to keep an open mind because you never know where your path will take you.
The War Eagle Speaker every year is nominated by the senior class, typically because everyone knows they have a story to tell. This year’s speaker, Brandon Wood, is no different. Wood has had his fair share of battles in his four years at Davie. He mentions his struggles at the start of his speech, emphasizing how eternally grateful he was that his girlfriend’s grandparents took him in. He cites Joe Dirt’s famous quote, “You gotta keep on keeping on,” to express his view on high school. He makes sure to tell his fellow graduates that life after high school includes the good and the bad, but you have to take it how it was dealt to you. He concludes his speech by quoting the wise words of Tim Devricks, his football coach: “Whatever you end up doing in life, just show some of that DCAW spirit and remember, everywhere you go, you represent the DC.”
The final speech to go was last year’s teacher of the year, Will Marrs, who himself is a War Eagle alumnus. Marrs started the speech by welcoming everyone in attendance and congratulating the Class of 2024. He expresses a huge thanks to every teacher who brought him to this moment, many of whom are now his coworkers. He also adds one final, huge thank you. He recaps his first week of teaching and how he puked before his first day, realizing he had no idea how this new chapter of his life would play out. He explains how he spent that first night sitting at the kitchen table trying to plan out the rest of his week, but he had help. His sister, Bailey Grubb—who he is proud to be able to call a colleague—helped him plan out that first week and calmed him down. He dedicated his address to her.
He leaves this graduating class with three pieces of advice. The first one is to be humble—never become so proud that you lose the ability to say I don’t know or ask for help. The second one is to stay passionate. “Passionate people make the world spin faster, and make the world spin better.” The final piece of advice is to trust your progress. “The step off that stage is a scary one, and it’s fine to be scared. I’m here to tell you right now that it is completely okay to not have everything figured out.
After the speeches concluded, it was finally time for the graduates to walk across the stage. Led by the junior marshals, the seniors made their final journey across the football field. Each senior shook the hands of administrators and counselors, received their diplomas then took their picture. Then many students hugged their favorite teachers for the first time as Davie High School alumni.
The Weekly Talon extends a congratulations to the Class of 2024. As Will Mars said, “War Eagles, you are ready to take flight.”
