Clarksdale High School held graduation on the new football field Saturday morning for the first time ever as the community and nation and Class of 2021 looked beyond COVID-19.
The 2020 graduation was a drive-thru due to the COVID pandemic, but the class of 2021 was able to come together on the football field next to the high school.
Clarksdale Municipal School District superintendent Dr. Earl Joe Nelson congratulated the students and parents and talked about the challenges everyone faced.
“As I look out into the audience, I see more than 144 high school graduates,” Nelson said. “I see students who spent their whole senior year in the pandemic and persevered. I see students who conquered anything. I see those who are able to master virtual learning platforms.
“I see students who had to specialize in social distancing, but play together. I see students who achieved the goal of completing the high school education despite the circumstances,” he added. “Yes, this is a time in history when our world dealt with numerous challenges, but a time where opportunities created by those challenges have never been greater.”
Nelson said the journey prepared students for the future and he hopes they continue to grow and learn new skills.
CHS principal Herbert Smith called on everyone to give the graduates a standing ovation.
“Never forget that accomplishments, achievements, progress and perseverance, merit and success are synonymous with determination, dedication, devotion and persistence,” Smith said. “If the pandemic has taught you anything, it has taught you to persist in tough times. Congratulations. We wish you continued success.”
Salutatorian Miriam Howard provided the invocation and valedictorian Chelniah Pollard gave a speech.
Pollard said some of the graduates were together since Oakhurst Intermediate Academy while others came to Clarksdale High School more recently.
“Whether you have been a Wildcat since sixth, seven, eighth, whichever grade, one thing is for sure,” Pollard said. “You finished an amazing journey as a mighty Wildcat.”
Pollard reflect on students’ memories ranging from moments in the halls, lunches and to times with friends and teachers.
“I’ll miss the quiet halls every time the seniors went away on senior trips, but what I’ll miss the most are my very hilarious, unique and generous classmates,” Pollard said. “Whether we were close friends or not, we’re all one team. Once we were all strangers. Now, we’re all one big Wildcat nation forever red and blue.”
CMSD board president Delores Harris thanked parents, faculty and teachers for their patience in equipping students with the knowledge and skills to pursue their aspirations in life.
“To graduates, as you matriculate to the next level in the real world of work, it is important that you establish yourself on a solid foundational pathway,” Harris said. “Simply put, awaken your full potential. Your foundation determines your success. The knowledge and skills you learned must now be applied. These allow you to rise to the occasion and secure your place of significance in this global society. You’re like a foundation. If a building is not secure, the building will collapse.
“So stabilize your building by seizing all the knowledge, skills and opportunities to keep growing as you move forward. Stay open to new things while cultivating and investing in healthy robust circles that aspire to form good positive relationship and work ethic thereby engaging in doing the hard work of getting along with others, treating each other with dignity, respect and honor. The rewards are beyond anything you could imagine. Clarksdale High School class of 2021, well done. Congratulations and may God’s continued blessings be yours.”
