SCHS Seniors inspire through Graduate Parade

Yesterday morning, Stephens County High School Seniors revisited their elementary schools and paraded down the halls they walked so many years ago.

Toccoa, Liberty and Big A Elementary Schools were on the list to receive graduation parades.

WNEG News was on site to watch the Class of 2018 and former Toccoa Elementary School students walk through their former halls.

As part of a recent initiative by Family Connection, the hope in this, is that the parade will give the seniors a sense of pride in their accomplishment and will cause the younger students to look at them and be even more inspired and motivated to graduate.

Will Collins, 18, of Toccoa, told WNEG News that it was both weird and cool to be back at his former school.

“Oh! Good Lord, it’s so weird; for one, everything is so small. It’s just so weird; but, its real cool, its real neat,” Collins said.

Cole Heffer, 18, of Toccoa, was another senior who revisited his former elementary school.

“It’s really crazy. It’s crazy to see these small children, and think that we were there at one time. And now we’re all the way here, and we’re ready to graduate on Friday. It’s so cool to see that,” Heffer said.

Heffer added that the Graduation Parade is important for both the seniors and the elementary students.

“I think it is really inspiring,” Heffer added. “Knowing me, being in Kindergarten or even a first-grader, and seeing seniors, it was like ‘I’ll never make it to that point.’ To make it to this point, it’s so cool to see that progression happen. For these kids, today, to see these seniors come, it’s just a cool experience for them to experience.”

Zack Bailey, 18, of Toccoa, described felling nostalgic as he walked the halls once more.

“It feels great. Like, it’s just, everything is just so nostalgic, I can’t really put it into words,” Bailey said.

Bailey recalled his fondest memory as a student at Toccoa Elementary.

“My most fond memory was probably when I was doing the spelling bee with my class and everyone got out on the same word – ‘satellite,’” Bailey said.

The Commencement Exercises for the Stephens County High School Class of 2018 will be this Friday, May 25, at 8:00 p.m. in the stadium. Tickets are required. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m.