By Matt Wiley
Congratulations to the Class of 2014 at Wesley Chapel High (WCH) and Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH)! Both schools held ceremonies recently at the University of South Florida Sun Dome.
On the evening of May 30 at the Sun Dome, 331 Wildcat seniors crossed the stage to become high school graduates.
“Your energy was evident from the moment you arrived,” WCH principal Carin Nettles said to her graduating class. “Your determined energy has been channeled since you arrived, in goodness and in love for your school, you community, yourselves, your families, your pursuits, your passions and your love for each other.”
Nettles continued, “Take what you’ve learned, what you’ve put in to practice with your Wildcat family and approach your life with that same fearlessness. Each and every one of you has the ability to go as far as your dreams can take you.”
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WCH valedictorian Tierny Irwin also addressed her class before they received their diplomas.
“We’ve made it out of high school,” said Irwin, who graduated with a 4.45 weighted GPA. “There’s still life ahead of us. I hope you know what you’re doing. I would also advise everyone to really live life. Put the smartphone down. There’s a lot in life you don’t want to miss.”
The next morning, also at the USF SunDome, WRH principal Robyn White gave her first graduation address since taking over for former principal Ray Bonti, who took a job as the executive director of support services for Pasco County Schools at the end of last year.
“I wonder what will come to mind when someone mentions the name Wiregrass Ranch High School to you in coming years,” White said to the crowd of 504 graduating Bulls. “Will it be the ‘Spirit Weeks,’ or a teacher or staff member that reached out to you? Perhaps it will be this graduation ceremony.”
White encouraged her students to take care of each other, friends and family, just as parents and teachers have taken care of them up until graduating.
“The best days are still ahead of you” White continued. “Never believe someone who says that their high school days were the best in their life because the future is ahead and that will be what is the best.”
WRH valedictorian Chelsea Chitty, who graduated with a 4.77 weighted GPA, also had some motivating words for her classmates before they crossed the stage.
“Although this may feel like an ending, this truly is the beginning of the rest of our lives,” Chitty said. “It is our turn to dream big and inspire. As long as we believe in ourselves, the future is ours.”
We also congratulate this year’s salutatorians — Nicole Nielsen (4.44 GPA) from WCH and Nikhil Thota (4.67) from WRH — and all 835 graduates at both schools and their families!
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