Clay City graduates 55

Monday, May 30, 2022

Story & Photos By Savannah Hogg

By Savannah Hogg

Clay City Jr. Sr. High School presented diplomas to their 55 graduates of the class of 2022 on Saturday, May 28th. This senior class was one of the first since 2020 to get a nearly “normal” senior year. With that, they were advised by Mr. Bell, principal, to cherish their memories, accomplishments, and successes, but to never forget the classes that pushed through those troubled times.

Senior class president, Lani Starkey welcomed everyone to commencement. She encouraged her peers to never forget the people that helped them get to where they are today. Salutatorian’s address followed up the introduction, presented by Callie Ream. Ream highlighted and reminded the class of just a few of their many memories that were made throughout elementary, jr high, and high school. She tied them altogether by saying, “Time flies when you are having fun and these times have been nothing but amazing throughout the thirteen years here at Clay City.”

The Class of 2022 was proud to have two Valedictorian’s, Starkey and Kaitlyn Hofmann. Starkey addresses her start at Clay City in the sixth grade and how anxious and nervous she was. She adds, “Everyone was very inviting and nice to me.” She continued to explain how quickly her friendships, memories, and lessons were made over time. While her time was coming to an end at Clay City, she continued, “Leaving this place makes me get the same feeling I had walking into my new sixth grade class.” However, her and her classmates are ready to take that next adventure and use what Clay City had to offer in their future. Next Valedictorian, Hofmann, explains her upcoming to the title she had that Saturday afternoon. She describes how hard her elementary experience was and in preface by adding, “If you were my teacher in elementary, you probably would not expect me to be standing here today.” She continued to explain how in the fifth grade things began to click, she learned how to study, how to learn, and how to prosper in the classroom. That growth continued to grow as she continued her way through the Clay City grades, leading her to the top of her class.

By Savannah Hogg

While each speech had a different message, personalization, and idea, they all had one thing in common: community. Each class representative described the Clay City community in a way that can be summed up in one word, family. It is without a doubt, that Clay City’s community serves the school in a way that provides growth, respect, and integrity being walked down the halls in the minds of the many students. Ream, Starkey, and Hofmann all stated in a varied form, how lucky they truly were and how they wouldn’t know where they would be without such a loving and supportive community. One particular past Clay City community member that was highlighted at the commencement, was Dr. Buell.

As family, friends, and graduates filled the Eel Dome Saturday, many noticed an unusual layout to the floor. Rather than being completely covered by the floor tarp, two portions of the court were exposed to publicly announce the dedication of the court. The Eel Dome is now the proud home of Doc Buell Court. Dr. Buell was a proud supported of the Clay City Eels in every aspect possible. Mr. Jeff Bell, bragged on the late Buell’s dedication by telling the story of how he donated enough money each basketball regional appearance to take fan buses to the events and buy them a meal, for students and fans that otherwise would not get to go. That one example, however, was a small portion of his generosity to the school and students. He made sure that the school had what was needed to allow each and every student the possibility to succeed.

Co-Secretaries, Blake Patterson and Shelby Cobb welcomed V.F.W. Post 6606 Commander Darin Carlson to announce the 2022 Citizenship recipients. Those went to Saydee Hauer and Kasey Canada.

Mr. Jeff Fritz presented the diplomas to all graduates and by the power invested in him, declared them 2022 graduates of Clay City Jr. Sr. High School. He continued in his speech, “This will be the last walk down the halls of Clay City High School, and soon this will be the last walk down the halls for someone who has made a lasting impression on Clay City High School and our community, over the last twenty-nine years. That would be Mr. Jeff Bell.” Mr. Bell will be heading back to his native grounds in the fall of 2022 to pursue a career at Martinsville. Over his twenty-nine years, he has touched many lives, as a teacher, coach, or principal. Fritz had anyone in the audience that has had the pleasure of being taught, coached, or had him as a principal to stand during the ceremony. As many of the parents, students, alumni, and friends rose to their feet, shortly after everyone was giving Mr. Bell a standing ovation for all the lives he has touched. With tears in his eyes, Mr. Bell joined in the ovation, by using his hands to signal that he loved this school, community, and students. Lani Starkey and Kaylee Miller were invited back to the podium to present Mr. Bell with a plaque of appreciation. The plaque reads, “Mr. Jeff Bell, teacher, coach, and principal: Fall 1993 through spring 2022. Thank you for your 29 years of dedication to the staff, parents, and students of Clay City High School. No matter where you are you will always be purple and white. Keep the train rolling in your future endeavors.” Mr. Bell addressed the audience, where not many dry eyes remained in the room, by thanking Mr. Paul Sinders for giving him the opportunity to come to Clay City twenty-nine years ago. Bell stated, “This school was my life and you kids were my kids for twenty-nine years,” “I love Clay City Jr. Sr. High School.” He wrapped up his speech by reminding the graduates to not forget the many iconic people of Clay City, such as Jeff Fritz, Sheree Fell, John Mercer, Keith Jones, Brent Graham, and many more. Someone once told Mr. Bell that one day he would feel like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth and Clay City sure does.

Commencement ceremonies were closed by Kaylee Miller. She thanked the community, families, and faculty and staff of Clay City High School for their love and support.

Clay City High School 2022 graduates included: Nathan Barger, Gavin Boggs, Robert Burkle*, Kasey Canada*T, Chole Cannon, Shelby Cobb*, Madison Creager, Kelly Culver, Dylan Faulkner, Morgan Fidler, Nadia Fischer, Allison Galbraith T, Santiago Toro, Kylee Garlit, Maria Gentry, Joslynn Harden T, Melanie Harrison*, Saydee Hauer*, Kaitlyn Hofmann*T, Joshua Hogan, Jacob Hogg*, Natasha Jenkins, Brianna Johnson, Jade Johnson, Chole Jordan*, Ashlyn Killion, Emma Knierim, Johnathan Langley, Ashton Lawson, Kody Linton, Tyler Martin*, Braxton Mercer*, Arian Michael, Kaylee Miller*, Nathan Moore, Sophia Moshos*, Karter Neiswinger*, Jaryn Patterson* T, Callie Ream, Andrew Schultz, Ashton Schultz, Brock Skelton*, Alice Smiley, Megan Stagg, Lani Starkey*, Lucas Starkey, Colton Stinson T, Tia Tague, Olivia Utterback, Ariana Wagner*, Kaitlyn Wolf*, Demi Wolfe*, and Katherine Youngblood T.