Quincy Community Schools awards diplomas to 88 in class of 2024

QUINCY — The sun was hot Sunday afternoon in the football stadium for the 2 p.m. graduation of the 144th class of seniors from Quincy High School.

Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends packed the stands and grass on the home side of the field as 88 graduates of the class of 2024 crossed the stage at centerfield to receive diplomas from school board members and Superintendent Marc Kramer.

Thirty-seven graduated with honors.  Nathan Richer was Senior Scholar.

Historian Isabelle Neely noted the class of 2024 started high school as freshmen during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The first year of high school was not easy to do online. It was especially hard if wi-fi didn't work or your computer died during class." Hybrid classes came in the second semester

Neeley told of teacher Shari Tarnow, the featured graduation speaker, who had students act Shakespeare online.

There was the ceremonial custom of passing the cane from the senior to junior class.

Class president Kayla Modert added the green and purple 2024 class ribbon before turning the symbol over to 2025 class president Charlotte Crabbs.

The tradition began June 21, 1898, for the cane now almost too heavy to lift.

Tarnow, the English Language Arts teacher, reflected on her father's advice to her about facing school and life.

She challenged the Quincy graduates, "Who will stand and fight for what's right and good and honest and just and pure and virtuous and praiseworthy and lovely when no one else will? Who will speak the words that only you can speak?"

After over an hour in the hot sun, graduates and those there to celebrate cheered as seniors tossed their caps to end the ceremony.

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— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Quincy Community Schools awards diplomas to 88 in class of 2024