“Doers, achievers, and winners”   

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

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