NEWARK — One-hundred-forty-five seniors received diplomas when Utica High School conducted its 127th commencement exercise on Sunday at the Career and Technology Education Center of Licking County. Escorting in the class of 2012 were district superintendent Scott Hartley, high school president Mark Bowman and members of the board of education.
“A special day,” is what Hartley called the day in which family and friends came out and filled the C-TEC auditorium in anticipation of the seeing the awarding of high school diplomas. After the invocation was given by youth minister Lyndol White, student government president Samantha Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the song “Defying Gravity” from Wicked was sung by the high school Kantorians.
Included in the class of 2012 were 10 salutatorians. Each was recognized and presented a medal by high school principal Mark Bowman. The salutatorians were Daniel Bevard, Ashton Cannon, Sam Preston, Sara Ridenbaugh, Sarah Shomaker, Myranda Wolfe, Matthew Wood, Nathan Wyscarver, Tasha Ramsey and Danielle Doup. Delivering a salutatorian address were Ramsey and Doup. Ramsey recalled the last 13 years of school and how they have all learned many aspects of respect, thanking the teachers and parents for all their support. Doup spoke about different relationships and what she appreciates in them all, telling her fellow seniors that, “Even though I may not see many of you again, I really do appreciate you.”
