As is tradition, the seniors walked in, two by two, to the graduation march with young ladies clad in Carolina blue and gentlemen wearing royal blue. All stood in solemn silence as they made their way to their seats across the gymnasium floor.
Derek Lambert, principal of Pendleton County Middle/High School, welcomed students and families to commencement. He shared, “Graduates, today reflects the culmination of everything you have invested – early mornings, late nights, challenges faced, and goals achieved.”
“And no matter where you go or where you end up, always be proud of where you came from.”
Class videos are an important tradition for Wildcat graduates. Photos of seniors, their childhood and current photos, accomplishments, and little snapshots of who they are graced the screen. The video opened to Stevie Nicks’ Landslide. Photos of grinning kids holding footballs or enjoying birthday cake had morphed into the fine almost-adults that walked onto the stage that day.
Cheers went up from families and friends for their beloved graduates as both parents and soon-to-be graduated students shared laughter and joy of good memories.
One fun new twist this year came when seniors got to sign their names on a camera screen, also set to music selected to reinforce the tone of the day. Some showed their serious face while writing, while others just could not hide their senior smiles. Cheers met the completion of some signatures.
Leah Nesselrodt served as valedictorian and Carolyn Varner earned salutatorian. Breena Bowers, class vice president, and Jameigh Miller, class treasurer, introduced speakers.
Varner spoke of the value of life challenges, saying, “We are not defined by our struggles, and we are refined by them.” She advised fellow graduates, “Struggles don’t always send warning signs before arriving. So always remember it’s okay to struggle in your own way.”
“When I was eight years old,” said Nesselrodt in her speech, “I was faced with a decision that would change the course of my life . . . I could stay in the third grade, with all my friends, with familiar material . . . or I could move ahead a year early.” She used that experience to describe how to take on difficult choices, encouraging others to think of Robert Frost’s poem about the road not taken and embrace the path that leads not to comfort, but to personal growth.
Dave Eason, social studies teacher at PCM/HS provided the keynote address, admitting that at first he was inclined to refuse the honor. Eason noted the many roles in which he has served students during the years as teacher, coach, athletic director, and dean of students.
“You have hopefully learned not to pick battles you can’t win, especially if it is a rap battle with me,” he laughed.
He then shared a story about how to take on tough challenges and projects, with planning and hard work, sure, but faith and humor helps as well. One year, those organizing prom wanted to take attendees to Paris, France, but in the auxiliary gym. He described the efforts made by students to organize, to assemble, and to recreate the allure of the French capital.
After all the work, not everything wanted to go together right. He shared that he was standing with fellow teacher Allison Vincell. While not perfect, Eason related that “one of us said at least it will be dark. This turned out to be very true.” He also shared, “It became the longest running joke in the building.”
It also turned out to be wisdom. Eason said, “Sometimes, things that seem like a huge deal just need to be looked at from a different perspective or in a different light.” He added, “It wasn’t just your success that shaped you into who you are today. It was also your willingness to never give up and to persevere when times get tough.”
And all of Pendleton County Schools appreciates that willingness to dedicate to excellence, no matter the classroom or venue of competition.
The class of 2026, along with those immediately before and after, carried a special burden in their academic careers. COVID lockdowns kept students away from precious academic time, pushing many to try to learn in less-than-ideal environments. The school system itself took a hit in the areas that mattered most, attendance and academic scores.
Pendleton County’s Board of Education, superintendents, central office staff, administrators, faculty, and supporting staff had the challenge of battling back placed in front of them. While the hard work of bringing performance back on their side has been well-documented, it could not have happened without Wildcat pride. Students took pride in their schools and themselves, responded to calls for better attendance, put in the work in class and in testing, and helped their schools raise their games.
All the athletic success enjoyed by this class represents a certain level of grit, determination, and pride, but the academic side took just as much work, for which all Pendleton County Schools officials have reflected great pride and appreciation.
And the work of this class is not yet done. This week, the softball team traveled to Charleston to defend their state title while the baseball squad travels to Huntington in June to make their mark on the state tournament.
But wherever they go, whatever they accomplish, they will remember Lambert’s words.
“You are Pendleton County High School.”
