2017 class is school’s 68th annual commencement

PROCTORVILLE — The 2017 graduating seniors of Fairland High School closed the final chapter of their high school careers Friday evening at the school’s 68th annual commencement ceremony.

“Graduating is bittersweet,” graduate Caelan Huff said. “I’ll miss all of the amazing teachers, but I’m ready to move on.”

Huff was involved in numerous activities during her time as a Dragon, including Beta Club, National Honor Society, Math Club, FCCLA, senior salute, basketball, softball, volleyball and soccer.

She said that she would be attending Marshall University in the fall to study biology, before going to med school to become a pediatric surgeon.

Graduate Issy McKinney said her favorite part about her time at Fairland were the academics and playing basketball. “The academics here at Fairland were extremely good,” she said. “And playing basketball here helped me get a scholarship to the University of Rio Grande.”

While at Rio Grande in the fall, McKinney said she plans on studying education to become a math teacher.

The teachers at Fairland High School were another high point for the graduates, including Connor Lacroix, Julie Price and Paige Meadows, who all said the teachers made their high school experience very enjoyable.

“I liked the teachers a lot,” Lacroix said. “They’re very nice and very fun and supportive.”

Lacroix plans on attending Ohio University in Athens in the fall, although he is still undecided about his major.

“I enjoyed my teachers here,” Price said. “They spent extra time helping everyone out.”

Meadows agreed, and added that the teachers actually got to know their students.

“I had a great time here,” she said. “Most of the teachers here really try to get to know you instead of you just being another number in the class.”

Price also said that she enjoyed all of her coaches over the past four years, as she ran track, cross country and played soccer. She plans on attending Shawnee State University in the fall, but is still undecided on a major.

For Meadows, she was a cheerleader, was in the Math and Spanish clubs, Tri-M, FCCLA and FCA. She said she plans on attending Youngstown State University to study nursing in the fall.

“This class is really a good group of leaders,” Tara Sansom, Fairland High School senior English teacher, said. “And they’re very community service-minded.”