With heavy hearts, students from Sulphur High School and Oklahoma School for the Deaf will graduate from their respective schools in the next few days and will leave a town that could be virtually unrecognizable when they return for their 10-year anniversary.
As the community deals with the aftermath of downtown tornado that ripped apart much of the historic district and residential areas, graduation will go on.
Ninety-two Sulphur High School seniors will cross the stage this Friday at Agee Field and 13 from OSD will say their goodbyes at their commencement exercises at1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21. Sulphur’s commencement will start at 8:00 p.m. with the SHS band playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” directed by Jordan Eaton, band director. The invocation will follow, led by class Vice President Huston Holder with the Oklahoma and USA Flag Salutes coming next.
The senior ensemble will then provide music, “Sign of the Time,” arranged by Mark Brymer. The ensemble is composed of seniors Sarah Gonzales, Audrey Mao and Sinai Ugalde.
Then it will be show-time as SHS Superintendent Matt Holder will present the Oklahoma scholars and honor graduates.
Principal Clete Cole will then present the senior class as they begin to walk across the stage to accept their diplomas.
Following that, Danielle Allgood, class secretary, will offer the benediction and in their final act, the seniors will “turn their tussles” signifying their graduation.
The SHS band will then perform “Pomp and Circumstance.” Serving as junior honor escorts for this year’s commencement will be Camron Brown, Caden Cole, Landry Couch, Zoe Johnson, Billy Patterson, Jesse Potter, Gracie Ratchford and Nash Williamson.
(See separate story in this issue detailing OSD’s graduation exercises.)