Bucktail Area High School graduates 24
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Bucktail senior Haley Burrows is pictured shortly after graduating.
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Bucktail Valedictorian, Kayla Probert, received a $200,000 Navy ROTC Scholarship from a representative from the US Navy during graduation. Next to Kayla are her parents, Eric and Stephanie Probert.
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Led by class President Gianna “Gigi” Tripp, two dozen Bucktail Area High School students graduated on Dwyer Memorial Field as the Class of 2023 became the school’s most recent alumni.
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Bucktail senior Haley Burrows is pictured shortly after graduating.
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Bucktail Valedictorian, Kayla Probert, received a $200,000 Navy ROTC Scholarship from a representative from the US Navy during graduation. Next to Kayla are her parents, Eric and Stephanie Probert.
KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Led by class President Gianna “Gigi” Tripp, two dozen Bucktail Area High School students graduated on Dwyer Memorial Field as the Class of 2023 became the school’s most recent alumni.
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RENOVO -- Bucktail Area High School was the site of a perfect summer evening as loved ones gathered to see 24 students become alumni at the 56th annual commencement for the small but proud school.
As in so many classes before them, the small class shares what so many others across the country do not -- a closeness in knowing all of their peers that allows them to grow together, often from preschool all the way to becoming alumni.
Class Salutatorian Bella English noted the strong relationships with her classmates in her speech.
"Some of us (who) started together as early as Miss Lindy's pre-school at the library, look back on those days with gratitude," English said.
She followed with a quote that she came back to in recent weeks from the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" -- "there's no place like home."
Class President Gianna Tripp opened the evening. She recalled growing into young adults together while imploring her friends to "follow your dreams with passion, while respecting the diverse world around us" in their years of adulthood.
Class Valedictorian Kayla Probert offered to her new fellow alumni that grades don't define the character that they will be able to show the world.
Probert was also singled out during Dr. Jacquelyn Martin's address.
Martin told the crowd that, in addition to Probert accepting a Navy ROTC Scholarship of $200,000, the standout student was also offered an ROTC Scholarship from the Army. She stressed how Probert had a choice between the two, at which time many in the audience took in audible deep breaths over the achievement.
Following a turning of their tassels led by Class President "Gigi" Tripp, the alumni walked off of Dwyer Memorial Field for the final time, two dozen strong.