The Class of 2023 tossed their caps on Sunday night as they celebrated the commencement of 403 graduates.
Held at Texas Christian University, the ceremony was led by Valedictorian Parker Pritchard and Salutatorian Chloe Johnson.
To open the ceremony, Senior Class President Robert Cash Pippin led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Adrian Alonzo Gonzalez performing the National Anthem on the trumpet.
Student Body President Jazmine Martin began the evening by discussing CHS’ annual STinG Week.
“During STinG Week we raised over $16,000 for a young boy named Alex,” she said. “Alex is a sixth-grader at Smith [Middle School] who has a heart condition. Not only did we raise money for him and his family, but we also gained friends and made great memories along the way.”
Johnson, in her salutatorian address, shared the things that the class learned during high school.
“High school is a period of academic and personal growth, and it offers several valuable lessons that can shape a person’s life,” Johnson said. “Through our high school experiences, we learned so many things.
Things such as time management, collaboration and teamwork, resilience and perseverance, she said.
“Before we leave, I have a small piece of advice that I want to share with you all,” she said in closing. “As we all go our separate ways, we will experience many of life’s challenges. Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Failure is not a reflection of your self-worth, and it does not define who you are. It is an opportunity to learn.”
In his valedictorian address, Pritchard recalled the memorable moments throughout the past four years — from multiple COVID years to Snowmageddons and the “fight weeks.”
“I think it’s fair to say we’ve experienced quite a bit together as a class,” he said. “Tonight, though, marks the completion of that chapter in our lives.
“Tomorrow, when we wake up, possibly for the first time, we will feel a new mixture of emotions ranging from excitement to uncertainty. It is at that moment; we will realize the next chapter is already being written.”
While trying to decide what to write in his speech, Pritchard said he sat down and started writing letters, some that he will deliver and some that will never be delivered.
“It’s too easy to say I learned something, when in reality I was taught by someone else,” he said. “These letters, made out to some of those who touched my heart personally, were a way for me to reflect on my experiences and acknowledge my gratitude for the impact of these incredible individuals.”
When he was done, he laid them all out and came up with three common themes, qualities he found in the people he wrote to, that he hopes will be the foundation of his character to come, he said.
The first was patience, which he said might not be his best quality.
“Patience is something that encompasses a lot,” he said. “Through some pretty amazing people, I’ve seen that patience is not just the ability to wait, put up with, or look past, but instead is the ability to keep a good mindset while doing so. It’s this quality that will help us persevere through late-night study sessions, grueling shifts, and our future relationships.
“Patience will allow us to make informed decisions and keep our minds focused. Maybe most importantly though, patience ensures that we treat others with respect and dignity, even if we find it hard to do so at times.”
Next was good humor, which he said he’s a little better at, but it’s still a good reminder to sometimes take things lightly.
“I’m going to make mistakes, you’re going to make mistakes, and those close to us, and not, are going to make mistakes,” he said. “Some of the best people I know conquer adversity through a laugh, and I am blessed to have had those laughs shared with me.
“It’s because of them I remember the phrase: ‘it’s not that deep.’ In this spirit, going forward, I’m going to try to share a laugh with as many folks as I can, even on my bad days.”
The last quality was generosity. The diplomas they were about to receive were because the generosity of another, whether that be a parent, teacher, coach or friend.
“I am so lucky to have been around people that understood generosity to be not just about material possessions, but to be the giving of oneself in kindness, compassion, and empathy – resources just as vital as food or water that come from an infinite supply that lies within each of us,” Pritchard said.
He closed with a quote from Winston Churchill — “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
“Class of 2023, as we leave Cleburne High behind, we move forward into an unwritten and uncertain future,” he said. “Luckily, tonight I stand before the authors. Congratulations.”
CHS Principal Ben Renner recognized the regalia, followed by the presentation of the diplomas by Cleburne ISD Interim Superintendent Jeffery M. Hanks and CISD Board Vice President Teddy Martyniuk.
Top Ten Percent
As first and second in academic rank among their 403 classmates, Pritchard and Johnson were recognized Friday morning at the annual Pinnacle Bank Honor Graduates Breakfast celebrating the CHS Top Ten Percent and their parents.
Pritchard ends his four years at CHS with a 4.733 GPA, reflected in numerous academic honors including AP Scholar with Distinction and the Aristotle Award as the outstanding scholar in social studies. He was among the candidates for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honoring the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. He is also the recipient of the National College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award.
He is a four-year letterman on the Jackets swim team, advancing beyond district as a regional and state qualifier in individual and relay events. He served as team captain this year. He is also president of Beta Club, vice-president of Key Club and Spanish National Honor Society and treasurer of National Honor Society. As a member of DECA, he was a district winner and qualified for state competition.
Pritchard will have one more opportunity to represent CHS as a Technology Student Association national qualifier in Forensics Crime Scene Analysis with teammate Macklin O’Leary.
He has been honored by the CHS faculty in being selected for Who’s Who, and by his peers in being named Mr. CHS for 2022-2023.
Pritchard has been accepted to the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas. He is the recipient of the Doyle Stalcup Scholarship, National Honor Society Scholarship, Alumni Scholarship and the Johnson County Texas Exes Scholarship.
As salutatorian, achieving second in class rank, Johnson is graduating with a GPA of 4.657. She will be attending Baylor University, with plans to major in business, and is the recipient of the Dr. W.P. Ball Scholarship.
Recognized for outstanding achievement by the CHS Foreign Language Department, Johnson has received the Leopold Senghor Award, as the top French scholar. She is also a four-year Academic Excellence Award honoree and has consistently achieved Beta Club Summa Cum Laude honors since her freshman year.
Johnson is a member of Exchangettes, Student Council and the French Honor Society and was the service chair in National Honor Society.
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