Schools

Good Evening. It is my honor to welcome each and every one of you to our high school graduation. It seems surreal that our time as high school students is finally coming to an end. The journey we have taken together has been a long road with different obstacles and road closures that we have had to drive through.

Class of 2022, here we are. It’s hard to believe that I’m standing up on this stage right now getting ready to graduate. It seems like just yesterday I was on this same stage giving a thrown-together speech for our eighth-grade graduation. I’ve got a couple of college English classes under my belt, so I don’t have an excuse to throw one together this time. 2022 seemed like an eternity away, yet here we stand ready to receive our diplomas and stumble into the real world. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were taking a field trip to Gator Country in fourth grade or screaming as loud as we could at the pep rallies in sixth grade. I guess it’s true what they say that time flies when you’re having fun. To say it’s been a fun ride would be an understatement. I’ve been able to do some fun and admittedly strange things throughout my time at West Sabine. There was the day that Hayden, Karson, Caleb, and I spent the day digging holes on the cross country trail to help drain the water for the meet the following day. There was also the time what we like to call the “phantom cat” got loose in the ag shop, and we spent all day looking for it. And let’s not forget mine and Hayden’s mowing shenanigans throughout this year. From mowing the wrong yard to tearing up parts on a lawnmower I’ve never even heard of, we’ve been through it all. I could go on for ages with the stories, but I’ll spare you. It’s safe to say that my time at West Sabine has taught me to stay on my toes because you never know what will happen when you walk through those doors.

Good evening everyone! Thank you friends, family and fellow graduates for being here tonight. Also to all my aunts and uncles who are watching on my mom’s facebook, thanks for tuning in. I would like to begin t o night by quoting my grandmother, Eva Ferguson, who graduated exactly 60 years ago as Hemphill High School valedictorian in 1962. “We must keep before us the fact that it has always been man’s greatest ambition to leave a better world behind when the final curtain is drawn.” Thank you for everything, Grandma.

Hemphill Hornets of the most adorable variety donned cap and gown for Kindergarten Commencemet last week. The morning was spent in song and ceremony and left everyone in attendance and watching online wishing that these darlings could stay small for quite a while longer. Hart, Hearn, Moody and Welch: four classes crossed the stage and complete coverage will be on our website at sabinecountyreporter.com this week! Reporter photo by Kenny Wick

The West Sabine Lady Tigers traveled to Lufkin May 12 and 13 to do battle with the Groveton Lady Indians in the regional quarterfinals. Game one was indeed a nail biting pitchers duel between Groveton’s Meghan Luce and West Sabine’s Cora Sepulvado. Each hurler stymied the other’s offense, matching each other pitch for pitch.

The SFA Ag Department recently hosted over 800 FFA members and guests on campus for the Area IX FFA Convention. SFA Agricultural Department recognizes the value of the lessons learned through FFA participation and know that FFA members make great Lumberjacks! Agriculturalists develop new and innovative methods to produce food and fiber to supply the world, all while preserving natural resources. At SFA, agriculture students are immersed in modern, challenging curriculum that provides them with the critical scientific knowledge and experiential learning opportunities needed to succeed.

For Brookeland Wildcat baseball, marked the second year in a row to make post season play. The reason? Teamwork, solid coaching, and talent. Recognized for their abilities and contribution, eight Wildcats made the 24-2A All-District team. Shown, left to right, Gavin Hass - district MVP, Ethan Coulter - first team infielder, Zach Beckett - second team infielder, Blain Sartor - first team outfielder, Sammy Lundquist - first team infielder, Sean Coulter - first team outfielder, Cade Morgan - newcomer of the year and Jake Bennett - second team infielder.