By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Through all the COVID protocols, social distancing and quarantining, Stanhope Elmore High School seniors showed their resilience on Monday night as they walked across the stage for graduation at a packed Foshee-Henderson stadium.
In year’s past, the seniors would have graduated at a larger facility out of town. However, Principal Ewell Fuller like the idea of keeping it home and local. He hopes that this will continue.
“It’s been a different type of year, and there were a lot of hoops that we had to jump through,” said SEHS Principal Ewell Fuller. “I haven’t seen a lot of you [the students] in the hallways throughout the year, but I have a particular connection with this class because of the amount of adversity that you’ve gone through.”
Fuller explained that he was born with a disability, and was labeled as handicapped. As a child, he had to wear leg braces to be able to walk in any capacity. Doctors told him that he would need to have multiple surgeries to walk upright, and that he would never be able to participate in any sort of athletics.
“I remember wearing those in elementary school and people would feel sorry for me and even pick at me – but it made me determined, which is what all of you are this year. You’ve all overcome adversity, and that’s why you’re sitting in these chairs. I was determined to come out of those braces, and that’s what you all have done this year – you’ve come out of those braces as well. Life is going to throw you curve balls, and the road will be snatched up from under you. What you have to do is determine which way you want to go.”
Richard Dennis, Superintendent for Elmore County, echoed several of Fuller’s thoughts.
“Seniors, you been through a lot this year. I commend the faculty, the staff and students for everything that they’ve done,” Dennis said.
Dennis then led the crowd in singing happy birthday for Fuller, in a surprising twist.
Afterwards, Stacey Franklin, Salutatorian for the class for 2021 took the stage. She challenged her class to think about the next chapter of their lives.
“To my classmates – we made it. Twelve years of hard work has now paid off. However, this moment is going to pass. All of the excitement will soon dissipate and more will be expected of us. Once the standing ovation is over and we walk out of the stadium, what’s next?”
Rikki McAdams, Valedictorian for the class of 2021, followed Franklin with her own speech.
“To my fellow classmates, we have grown up together and now we prepare to leave one another. I want to thank you all for the lifelong memories that I will cherish forever. You all have made high school some of the best years of my life. I will never forget Stanhope Elmore’s pep rallies, dress up days, or football games,” McAdams said. “Tonight symbolizes an end to a big chapter of our lives. After tonight, we will be preparing for college, the military, or the workforce and beginning a new phase of learning, exploration, and independence.”
SEHS finished the graduation ceremony by individually naming all 239 graduates, as they walked across the stage to begin life outside of the Elmore County School System.
