Class of 2024 receives diplomas, ready to 'stand on business'
Family, friends and alumni filled Patriot Stadium on May 24 to watch the graduates of the Oglethorpe County High School’s class of 2024 receive their diplomas and move on to the next chapter of their lives.
The graduates gathered at the center of the football field, adorned in their blue caps and gowns, where they listened to speeches from classmates and the administration.
In his address to the class, first-year principal Bill Sampson encouraged the graduates to “stand on business,” referencing a phrase he heard the students repeat throughout the year.
"Every one of you sitting in front of me tonight has stood on business for at least 13 years in order to earn a seat on this field,” he told the students. “Every one of you has the ability to achieve greatness, but you're going to have to put your cell phones down, tune into the world around you and decide what business you're going to stand on and stand strong."
Sampson praised the students for their support in his first year as principal at OCHS and said this is a “very personable class” that wasn’t “scared to talk to the administrators.”
“They were just very supportive,” he said. “They seemed very appreciative of some of the things that we did for them this year, and they were always willing to speak up and kind of say, ‘thank you’ for what was being done. Their support was greatly appreciated.”
Assistant principal Lauren Carlson felt a similar appreciation for the graduates.
After teaching them in ninth and 10th grade math, she said watching them collect their diplomas was bittersweet. Now having finished her first year in administration, Carlson said she will miss the bond she had with this class.
“They were all a bright spot in my day,” she said. “No matter what the day had held before that or what was happening that day, I knew at some point they’re going to come be-bopping through my door. They’re just a bright spot. Their personalities, seeking me out because they cared for me and wanted to see me every day.”
Valedictorian Macie McDaniel gave a heartfelt speech of appreciation for her family, friends and teachers who helped her over the years. She left her classmates with a word of encouragement in this transitional period.
“It’s OK to make mistakes,” she said. “This isn’t the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes, make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday when they ask us what we want to be, we won’t have to guess — we’ll know.”