Mercer County High School - Highlander Yearbook (Harrodsburg, KY)

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Seniors Combine Baccalaureate and Commencement

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The 1976 graduating class of Mercer County High decided to combine the traditional Baccalaureate service and commencement exercises into one ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, June 2nd. Despite the prac- tice, when graduation night finally arrived, most seniors, like Donnie Hat- ter and Paul Proctor, were caught up in the confusion and excitement of the occasion. However, with the assistance of ushers from the junior class, such as Diana Britton and Bill Staples, each senior knew exactly how to march in and where to sit when the long-awaited time arrived. Larry Rigsby started the program with the invocation. Trying very hard to hold back the tears, Mary Ann Meaux recited her poem entitled Senior’s Fare- well. After delivering her Valedictorian address, Faith Burns happily received from Mr. King the diploma she so richly deserved. Accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Gay O'Banion, the Mercer County High Girls' Octet sang May You Always and The Halls of Ivy. The graduation address was delivered by the pastor of the Salvisa Baptist Church, Reverend Larry Koch, who was familiar to the senior class both as a substitute teacher and bus driver. 26

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After Reverend Koch’s address to the graduating class, Principal James Gash recognized outstanding members by announcing their special awards. Among the many awards presented were the English award, received by Ruth Ann Cosby, and the music award, received by Margaret Sharpe. As the highlight of the evening, Superintendent Kenneth King awarded diplomas to 107 seniors, while a gymnasium packed with proud relatives and friends looked on. In their last action together, the class of 1976 switched their tassels to indicate that their status had at last changed from seniors to graduates. Salutatorian Lisa Gritton provided the Benediction - a most appropriate ending to the beautiful Christian ceremony which emphasized the important role that God should play in the life of every graduate. Follow- ing the commencement exercises, like the faces of Denna Jack- son, Lisa Elliott, and Alex Poulter, all the graduates beamed with both pride and relief, pleased that the long, twelve-year struggle had ended and not yet realizing that their greatest challenges had just begun. 28