Thirty-one graduates walk during 2016 Decatur High School commencement exercise

Photo by Mike Eckels Cindy Guadarrama (left) gives her brother Marck a rose and a hug just before receiving her diploma as part of the 2016 Decatur High School graduation ceremony in Peterson Gym May 15.
Photo by Mike Eckels Cindy Guadarrama (left) gives her brother Marck a rose and a hug just before receiving her diploma as part of the 2016 Decatur High School graduation ceremony in Peterson Gym May 15.

DECATUR -- Though they had been working toward this moment for 12 long, hard years, 31 Decatur High School seniors made the transition on Sunday from childhood into adulthood and readiness to face new challenges that will greet them in years ahead.

The high school band heralded the entrance of the graduates with the traditional graduation music fit for royalty. For some of the band members, this marked the last time they would play together as a group.

The Decatur High School graduating class of 2016 entered the Lloyd Peterson Gymnasium to accept their diplomas. For some, like Troy Flood, Haley Burden, Celine Prelle and Kyle Shaffer, walking across the stage in a place where they once spent endless hours of basketball practice, ball games, pep rallies and assemblies symbolized the perfect place to say goodbye to their school family and friends.

A short stroll down memory lane provided the graduates a chance to remember moments from their youth as the high school media department put together a montage of photographs of each from infancy through senior year. Tears of joy and sadness appeared as each watched his or her part of the presentation.

Just before the graduates made the long walk, the band played "An Irish Interlude" by Warren Barker. During this beautiful piece, the graduates stood up and walked to their family members, teachers and friends to hand them a yellow rose. This was the graduates' way of expressing their gratitude to the ones who stood beside them on their journey to adulthood.

Then, it was time -- time to walk across the bridge from childhood into the future -- and in a matter of 10 minutes it was over.

Toby Conrad instructed the graduates to move their tassels from right to left, signifying the end of a 12-year journey. Suddenly, the air was filled with blue hats in one final act as the 2016 graduating class of Decatur High School.

With the walk now complete, the time has come for these graduates to take their rightful place in the world. Some will go on to college and a chance at a career of their choosing. For others, like Kyle Shaffer, it's a career in the military defending the freedoms we hold so dear. Still, others will go straight into the work force, providing goods and services vital for the prosperity of this great nation. Whatever direction the long road ahead leads the 2016 graduates of Decatur High School, all the best from family, friends and the community that is Decatur, Arkansas. Safe journey!

The 2016 graduates of Decatur High School were : Cyrus Amanonce, Haley Burden, Jessica Cheney, Theodore Clements, Jesse Collins, Gunnar Cooke, Troy Flood, Lizeth Fuentes, Noemi Garcia, Pamela Garcia, Cindy Guadarrama, Sam Hernandez, Rickey Hickson, K'lee Jackson, Kathleen Lydon, Brandy Martinez, Kimberly Mendoza, Maria Molina, Sara Moppin, Alex Morrow, Celine Prelle, Tyler Riddle, Kyle Shaffer, Lidia Soto, Skyler Spence, Triston Stuthers, Addison Todd, Keng Vang, Meng Vang, Shastadee Vann and Briana Williams.

A few more graduation photos are available for viewing or purchase at: Decatur Graduation.

General News on 05/18/2016