290 students graduate
By Heather Michon
Correspondent
It was a beautiful night for a graduation.
Family, friends, and local dignitaries gathered on the playing field at Fluvanna County High School on Friday evening (May 26) to celebrate the Class of 2023. Well-wishers carried signs, bouquets of flowers, and balloons, cheering graduates on as they walked down the field to take their seats.
“This is a day to reflect upon your achievements, celebrate your successes, and embrace the bright futures that await you,” said principal Margo Bruce.
Student speakers included Faith Shields, president of the Student Government Association, class President Ryan Taylor, salutatorian Aden Melton and valedictorian Jackson Kinsella.
“There are some who have tried to label our class. They say that we are digitally obsessed. That we are a generation of excuses,” said Kinsella. “And I ask them to look before them and see if there are any excuses here today. Because what we are, this class of 2023, is a group of doers, achievers, and winners.”
The evening’s keynote speaker was Amy Barnabei, a 25-year veteran of Fluvanna County Public Schools and longtime principal at Central Elementary. Most of the students in the audience had been in kindergarten the year she became principal.
Barnabei said she was a little surprised when Bruce asked her to be this year’s speaker.
“I mean, I’m just a good old country girl. I’ve never lived more than a single mile from where I was born and raised. I’ve never written any influential articles, and I don’t have any special titles in front of my name. But once my mind stopped racing, I thought: that’s okay, because I am enough.”
‘Enough,’ she explained, wasn’t a measure of how many degrees they earned or how much money they made. It was a quality of character, an attitude of openness to the world and what it had to offer.
Barnabei said that they really had learned all they needed to know back in kindergarten. “To show citizenship. Take responsibility. Act kindly. Respect others. And stay safe.”
These were the fundamental qualities of being ‘enough,’– and having mastered those, she encouraged them to go further.
“Here’s a challenge to you,” she said. “Create a fear in your stomach. Lean to the edge and maybe fly, or maybe fall. Because that unknown could be greater than anything you’ve ever experienced.”
The evening was full of high spirits and good humor, but there was a bit of melancholy as well. Towards the end of the ceremony, Bruce asked for a moment of silence for students Logan Upton and Rebekah Mathis. Both had died during the school year.
There were 290 graduates this year, including 48 honor students. Bruce said that the Class of 2023 had been awarded over $750,000 in scholarships.
Congratulations, class of 2023!
Luke Douglas Abbott
Abigail Louise Adams
Rand Hussein Al-Safi
Madison Nicole Aldridge
Artela Aljiji
Densyl Ohanny Alvarado
Anthony Joseph Amon
Tyler Lee Andersen
Alijah Delane Anderson
Hayden Lee Armentrout
Lilla Nicole Ball
Jason Matthew Banton
Kaya Cheyanne Barnes-Hoo
Jayden Alexzander Baroch
Jocelyn Grey Beaulieu
Mia Carmen Becker
Kayli Marie Bennett
Johnathan Luke Berry
Mason Louis Blackburn
Emily Pearl Blackmon
Sampson Jermain Scott Blakey
Jon Curtis Blanchard
Vivian Nicole Blanchard
Benjamin Bainbridge Blodgett
Kimberly Grace Bond
Skyler Nicole Bonner
Rainier McKinley Booker
Benjamin Parker Bossong
Nathaniel Paul Bourgeois
Teagan Rose Bower
Michael Earl Boyer
Chloe Blossom Jane Brandon
Aaron Lane Brown
Lance Jamez Bruce
Arianna Elaine Bugg
Jacob Scott Butler
Jazzlyn Aniya Butler
Chase Thomas Caddy
ZaQuan Kwalique Cagle
Brayleigh Saige Campbell
Clayton Lee Cannady
Marissa Elianna Cantu
Jenna Rose Carel
Sereniti Cheyenne Carnes-Ivory
Astrid Elana Carrion
Alana Noelle Carter-Johnston
Hailey Paige Carter
Zy’kohr Nayshawn Carter
Benjamin Tate Catlett
Andrew Lawrence Cavanaugh
Kristen Rilee Chapman
Giancarlo Chavez Dominguez
Bethany Rose Cheripka
Lekeion Kristofer Childress
Joshua Tyler Christopher
Lillian Faith Clarke
Zachary Blake Clements
Gracie Annette Clifton
Cooper Garrett Cole
Tyler Mason Coleman
Shanya Marie Coles
Madison Elizabeth Collins
Madison Raine Cook
Ila Mae Cooper
Ava Corinne Costanzo
Vance Walker Cottrill-Shepard
Zoe Elizabeth Coulter
Bradley Sean Cox
Shelby Jean Crawford
Madeline Frances Creasy
Landon Andrew Critzer
Matthew Wayne Crothers
Leah Grace Currier
Tyler Neil Davis
William Lee Davis
Zachary David Davis
Maria Carolina Deaton Silva
Landen Fokine Decker
Evelyn Beauchsne DeMers
Kadence Patrick Derrickson
Abril Diaz-Calvillo
De’Aundra Janai Dillon
Ke’Aundra Jermai Dillon
Kaleb Wayne Dodds
Killian Joseph Donnelly
Landon Andrew Drumheller
William Justin Dudzik
Rory Abigail Dyke
Joshua Samuel Eckert
Ava Suzannah Efraimson
Nicholas James Elliott
Joseph Wayne Evans, Jr.
Amelia Anne Everard
Cadence Haileigh Farmer
DaShawn Nicholase Felton
Casuan Tyleek Ferguson
Isaac Harrison Fick
Alexis Gail Firth
Eugene Brandon Hearns Frye
Chloe Lynn Fusco
Santiago Guardia Garces
Bobby Wayne Gardner
Jackson Maury Garnett
Casey Ayers Gentry
Makayla Lyn Gentry
William Dale Gentry
Scotty Allen Gibson, Jr.
Erin Catherine Ginty
John Hunton Glasscock
Paola Alexandra Gomez-Melgares
Joseph Erick Gomez
Nathan Zachariah Gragg
Arianna Yvonne Grier
Jacob Edmund Grubbs
Madeline IdaAnne Haislip
Anthony Christopher Hamill
Zoey Michele Hampton
Karly Jayne Hance
Braedon Randall Haney
Sophia Caroline Harris
Liam Patrick Hatley
Asiana Deshay Hawkins
Kathlyn Elizabeth Henderson
Alexis Rane Hensley
Diego Hernandez-Garcia
Laura Leona Hernandez
Elizabeth Anne Herrick
Khamden Rashawn Hill
Bradley Malcolm Hineline
Conner Ethan Holman
Trustin Key Hopfensperger
Matthew Joseph Hourihan
Melody Mae Hourihan
Dahmier Amin Leonard Howard
Bryson Reeves Hoyle
Ashton Cole Hudson
Peyton Maddox Hughes
Natalie Kathleen Hull
Branden Cole Jackson
Emilie Jordan Jackson
Leilani Marie Jackson
Alyssa Kay Johnson
Isaiah Christopher Johnson
Taya Cynthia Johnson
Tayshaun Jamal Johnson
Emma Suzanne Johnston-Jure
Jon Valentine Jones
Itza Karina Juarez-Viveros
Ella Marie Kearney
Ellie Katherine Kennedy
Zachary Caden Kidd
Abigail Paige Kimble
Caleb Edward Kimble
Aidan James Kingsley
Jackson Keith Kinsella
Aniko Lela Kish
Kayleigh Grace Knight
Maya Seong-Kyeong Knisley
Madison Leigh Kovarik
Sierra Jade Krett
Cole Michael LaRochelle
Issac Wayne Lewis
Owen Thomas Leydig
Brennan Scott Long
Emani Grace Lopez
Yeidi Saideth Lopez-Espinoza
Sadie Ann Lowe
Paul Jay Lyons
Ashley Elizabeth Madison
Nathan Cole Markiewicz
Brigid Rose Markle
Cash Silas Marsh
Danny James Marshall
Peyton Elizabeth Marshall
Brooke Skylar Martens
Imani Adrianna Martin
Landon Riley Martin
Grace Merritt Maupin
Hunter Joseph McCloud-McLaughlin
Aiden Patrick McConnell
Elijah Micah McDaniel
Aden Josiah Melton
Ryan Allen Mentor
Mitchell Joseph Messier
Ashley Marie Moggio
Anthony Justin Mondragon-Morales
Autumn Skye Moore
Conner Shannon Morris
Destiny Shyann Morris
Jacob Dylan Morris
Jared Diesel Morris
Olivia Layne Morris
De’Marion Isaiah Morton
Anthony Charles Mundie
Brooke Danielle Napier
Holden James Napier
Elizabeth Colleen Newton
Samantha Mei Ngov
Emmanuel Nieves Mojica
Ethan Michael Noyes
Bodie Jeremiah O’Neill
Zachary McNeil Oder
Oluwadare John Opaleye
Kiersten Emily Ownby
Molly Grace Pace
Leia Tierney Palmer
Shannon Alexander Palmer
Teagan Amilie Palmer
Christian Alexander Pantoja
Jonathan Miguel Pantoja
Jacob Reece Paschall
Addison Blair Patchett
Dillon Robert Payne
Quamir Kiwon Payne
Taylor Brooke Peck
Wyatt Conner Pennington
Owen Walker Perry
Jared Scott Persinger
Emili Cynthia Pesta
Jennifer Plasencia-Villa
Avery David Pleasants
William Alexander Pleasants
Lillian Grace Plourde
Samari Levon Porter
Tinsley Elaine Porter
Cohen Jay Purviance
Michael Ellsworth Reed
Jakai Tyree Reid
Jennifer Marie Reyes
Destiny Nicole Reynolds
Dakota Johnson Roberts
Alex Jordan Rogers
Jamie Clare Roth
Santrice R’Sheal Rush
Megan Rose Russell
Jeffrey Connor Sample
Angelique Michelle Sampson
Erika Michelle Schmack
Makenna Grace Scopelliti
Abigail Reese Seal
Aubrie Lynn Seay
Seamus Byrne Sensabaugh
Andrew Ivey Sheridan, II
Macon Grant Sheridan
Faith Christina Shields
Ashlyn Nicole Shreve
Joseph Henry Sloan
John Christopher Smeds
Kenyon Jamiin Smith
Dylan Chase Snoddy
Matthew Landon Spears
Chad Anthony Sponaugle
Kaleb Scott Spradlin
Hannah Anne Sprouse
Zachary Ryan Sprouse
Jadae Alexous Stovall
Joshua Robert Streeter
Eva Laine Stribling
Logan Daniel Stutz
Laura Camila Suarez Sastoque
Somer Hope Sweitzer
Marshall Peyton Taylor
Ryan Edward Taylor
Kristian Allen Thomas
Jayde Alexyce Thompson
Olivia Matney Thurston
Litzy Torres-Morales
Miles Maitland Turner
Tatyana Aniya Turner
Aiden Scott Valentine
Nevaeh Leigh Vasholz
Cesar Iradier Vazquez-Velazco
Robert Moses Velasquez
Braelyn Analeigh Via
Malcolm Kevron Walls
Emma Lillian Ward
Alexis Nicole Washington
Aniya Onea Washington
Lindsay Taiwan Washington
Camerice Roderick Watkins
Parker Ann Carol Watson
Aniah Nicole Webb
Liam Richard Wells
Marcus Luke Wells
Lexi Raye Wilkins
Ryan Tori Wilkins
Nicholas Jacob Williams
Rebecca Mae Williams
Scotlynn Jane Winsheimer
Peyton Leigh Woods
Elyiana Auta Woody
Christina Katherine Wright
Finian McDonald Wright
Joel Elijah Zimmer
We asked a few graduates about their plans after high school.
Here’s what they said:
“I’m doing this thing called WWOOF-ing [Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms], its’s where you stay abroad with a family, it can be in the country or anywhere around the world, and basically you, in exchange for staying at their home, you work on their organic farm and learn about agriculture and sustainable farming.”
-Ella Kearney
“I am going to Virginia Tech after high school and I’m majoring in political science on a pre-law track. I want to become an immigration lawyer.”
-Paola Gomez
“I am going to PVCC and I’m doing a Martha Jefferson Earn-to-Learn Program for nursing.”
-Leia Palmer
“I am going to PVCC for nursing and getting my RN and I am getting my associate’s degree while trying to get my RN.”
-Jazzlyn Butler
By Emily Smeds Intern
