Greenup County seniors cross the stage

By Charles Romans

The Greenup Beacon

The past few weeks have been busy ones for the graduating seniors of Greenup County High School. There were last minute arrangements, schedule adjustments, and the ordering of the caps and gowns. Tests had to be taken, grades had to be finalized, and grade point averages were checked.

Paperwork for college enrollment and tuition was finished and sent to the appropriate colleges of the student’s choice. And all of this was accomplished as the most exciting event in their academic lives drew near. Other classes had graduated from Greenup County High – and from other schools- and although they had watched it happen to others, this years was the time for it to happen with the class of 2012.

Greenup County Schools were faced with challenges and made broad spectrum changes to meet those challenges. Students wrestled not only with the expected course load, but also with the new policies and procedures that changed the landscape of the school they had attended for the previous three years.

But the students succeeded in mastering those changes, and 45 of the over 200 graduating seniors did so with a GPA of 3.50 or better. The hard work had paid off for them.

During the Senior Breakfast on May 8, at Greenbo Lake State Park, the class congregated as a whole one last time before graduation, and shared ‘war stories’ about the year.

Difficulties faced and overcome were discussed, more often than not with laughter, to an underlying sense of a hard job done to the best of their abilities.

Plans for the future were shared with friends over good food. Some discussed scholarships while others talked about jobs they were pursuing, and some students talked about military commitments and the possibilities those commitments afforded.

And in and around such weighty matters were injected stories about things, events, and friends of the past year.

Sat. May 19 at 7pm the graduation ceremony began, and the class of 2012 received the reward for their hard work. The GCHS Band, under the direction of Andrea Daniels, played the processional and the GCHS JROTC furnished the Color Guard. MGYSGT Tom Fenchel led the graduating class in their last Pledge of Allegiance as a group. Senior Lauren Saltsman sang the National Anthem to her classmates, and they applauded her effort.

Retired GCHS Social Studies Teacher Marilou Couch then sang My Old Kentucky Home. GCHS Assistant Principal Jason Smith made introduction of platform guests, and then GCHS Principal Sue Davis welcomed everyone to the ceremony.

The commencement address was given by Tanya Pullin, State Representative for District 98, who as always began her speech by stating that she “was proud to be a graduate of Greenup County High School.” Her words of confidence and encouragement were followed by applause.

Salutatorian Alexander Morelles addressed his classmates following Rep. Pullin’s speech. GCHS’ four Valedictorians, Corey Billups, Katie Coldiron, Aaron Lawson, and Jeffrey Sparks, each spoke in turn before the graduating class. The Salutatorian and the Valedictorians shared their thoughts on the year, their sources of motivation, and hopes for the future that was beginning even while they spoke.

The class responded with appreciation and at times laughter at the speakers shared jokes. When the speakers had all finished, Greenup County Schools Supt. Steve Hall presented the class members with their diplomas.

An emotional moment filled the gymnasium as sister Katie Meenach walked across the stage to receive the diploma of her late brother Zach Mennach, a member of the class of 2012 who was killed in an auto accident his freshman year returning home from a regional baseball game.

Her presence triggered an emotional standing ovation as she walked across the stage greeting those handing out diplomas with a warm hug – while her classmates and many in attendance stood and offered warm applause.

And as the last graduate filed out of the gymnasium to the smiles and congratulations of family and friends, the Class of 2012 joined the body of Alumni of Greenup County High School. Their futures are now their own, to pursue as they see fit. Some will continue their education at local and distant colleges and universities. Some graduates will enter technical schools or enter into the workforce here and abroad.

Service to their country will be the path for some of Greenup’s graduates, perhaps with an eye toward college at a future date.

But no matter which path the graduates choose, the successes or failures they encounter in their lives, they will always share one thing in common; each individual will always be part of the greater whole that is the Class of 2012.

Congratulations, Good Luck, and Godspeed to all.

Photo by Davis Hoffman

A tribute to Zach Meenach was part of the décor for the 2012 graduation exercises at Greenup County High School. Katie, his sister, received his diploma, as Zach lost his life in an auto accident his freshman year on the way home from a baseball tournament.