FRANKLIN
As the Franklin High School Class of 2016 sat in the Paul D. Camp Community College Regional Workforce Development Center last Friday and listened to their peers and mentors address them at graduation, a message was given loud and clear that they shouldn’t look at graduation as an ending, but instead as a beginning.

“This is the beginning of our lives,” valedictorian Savannah Lewis said. “I don’t want everyone [in the class of 2016] to think it’s the end, this is just the beginning for us.”

Lewis continued in saying that being such a tight-knit class, graduation is hard, but at the same time, it’s the most exciting time of their lives. She also credited her success to her class.

“It feels great to be valedictorian,” Lewis continued. “I’ve worked really hard, but I owe a lot of my success to my class.”

After graduation, Lewis plans to attend Averett University and go into the military to obtain her pilot license.

Along with Lewis’ speech, the graduates heard several other speakers talk to them about the future and how they have the rest of their lives ahead of them and all the opportunity in the world to do something great.

Other speakers from the class included a welcome speech from Rosemary Idisi, a senior address from Kiana Reid and a salutatorian address from Timothy Kreider. Principal Dr. Watson and Division Superintendent Dr. Willie Bell gave speeches as well.

Although it was a bittersweet moment for the graduates, they are ready for the next step in their life. The 63 Broncos all have their own future plans, some which want to further their education, like Sara Lyons who will be attending Christopher Newport University. Others, however, will be going into the workforce, like Kaliyah Walloe who has plans to join the Air Force.