Crescent City seniors celebrate 2022 graduation | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Graduates at Crescent City Junior-Senior High School walk toward the stage to receive their diplomas during Thursday’s commencement ceremony.
Two graduates share a teary-eyed hug after the Crescent City High ceremony.
Graduates stand during the beginning of Thursday’s ceremony.
Crescent City Junior-Senior High School senior smile and applaud during the school’s graduation ceremony Thursday evening.
Positively Putnam FL

CRESCENT CITY – Young people in South Putnam County stepped into the next chapter of their lives as they graduated high school Thursday night.

Crescent City Junior-Senior High School graduates reflected on some of their favorite moments in their 13 years of education during the ceremony.

“We can all remember how excited we were to finally be seniors, having our last homecoming week, senior skip day, planning our (class) prank and – something we were all really nervous (for) and yet anticipating – our future,” graduate Faith Thomas told the audience.

This year, 107 students received their high school diplomas from Crescent City High, according to Putnam County School District officials. Of those graduates, 12 finished in the top 10% of their class.

Superintendent Rick Surrency also recognized Crescent City students who school officials felt embodied positive characteristics that embody a “Portrait of a Graduate,” which is “a set of six competencies that we believe all students should demonstrate when they graduate from our school district,” the district website states.

“It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself that determines how your last story will develop,” Surrency told graduates. “Thank you for showing such perseverance as you reach your goals.”

This graduation was special for Principal Tim Adams, who said he had been with many of the graduates from the time they were in kindergarten. Thirteen years ago, Adams said, he was the assistant principal at Browning-Pearce Elementary School in San Mateo and later became principal at Middleton-Burney Elementary School in Crescent City. Both of those schools are where many of Thursday’s graduates began their educational paths.

Last week, former Browning-Pearce students visited their former teachers as they prepared to graduate high school.

“I will never forget students earning (Accelerated Reader) points, the classes winning the Golden Tray award in the cafeteria, Cougar Cash being distributed, raising our school letter grade, our very first eighth grade formal dance at Miller (Middle School),” Adams said.

The graduates signaled the end of their high school years by tossing their maroon mortarboards in the air. They smiled, some capturing the moment on their cellphones and others cheering while letting their cap fly across the high school field.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege watching your success,” Adams said. “Please remember the faculty, staff, administration will always be here to support you. Remember, once a Raider, always a Raider.”