By ELISE DALLEY
The Progress
Mack Lyon Middle School celebrated the accomplishments of its outgoing eighth grade class last week at a special advancement ceremony held on Thursday May 19.
Rather than being a huge evening event that packed the gym, as is tradition at the school, this year’s ceremony took place during school hours in the school’s auditorium. Only students, teachers and administrators were in attendance. This was due to a renovation that is currently ongoing in the school gym. The floors in the gym are being painted to go along with the recent change of school colors from red and black to blue and gold. So the gym could not be used for the event.
Since the capacity in the Mack Lyon auditorium does not hold nearly the numbers needed for the larger evening event, parents had the opportunity to view the advancement ceremony by a streaming online platform.
The program began with words of advice from student body class president Addysen Sherwood. Then, Mack Lyon Middle School Principal Ken Paul addressed the crowd.
Paul gave everyone words of encouragement for the next years of their life. “The things you’ve learned will go far with you in life,” he said.
Various awards were then presented. School counselor Amy May presented awards for all the students who kept a 3.8-4.0 grade point average for all three years of middle school. “We’ve had some pretty amazing eighth graders this year,” she said. “I can’t wait to see the awesome things they continue to do.”
Following these awards, eighth grade English teacher Paula Chappell presented an Accelerated Reader award and a writing award. These were awarded to Knox Whipple.
She also handed out Leadership awards to students who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills to Jaxson Bunker and McKayla Brooks.
Math Teacher Tracy Adams presented eight grader Grant Conger with the math award; and Alex Leavitt and Alyssa Richins received awards for great citizenship in helping others.
Elwin Brown then took the stage, presenting various awards. The science award went to Hal Thompson. The Service Award was given to Paylynn Lawrimore and Hal Thompson for always lending a helping hand.
Sadie Schulthies and Jesus Rubio were then presented with the “Effort Award” for never giving up no matter what the outcome was.
Caleb Anderson, Ashley Robinson, and Knox Whipple were each presented with fine arts awards for different categories in music.
Kristy Brooks then presented the History Award to Evin Hull and the Academic Award to Janet Werner and Knox Whipple.
McKayla Brooks and Addysen Sherwood concluded the awards by presenting the long-awaited Eighth Grade Advancement Certificates to all graduating eighth graders.
The ceremony ended with a humorous slideshow of students’ faces being transfigured from their baby photos to their present day school photos.
