The 2023 graduates of Hope High School toss their mortars at the end of commencement ceremonies held in Hammons Stadium Friday night.

Despite a severe storm warning called at 1:13 p.m. Friday afternoon by the National Weather Service, the online announcement from Superintendent Jonathan Crossley was that the Hammons Stadium ceremony would go on. The storms must have heard. They sailed by to Hope’s north, and 151 Hope High School Seniors officially became graduates just before 8:00 p.m.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The processional of soon-to-be graduates began at 7:00 p.m., as the school’s decorated band performed the trio section of Elgar's first Pomp and Circumstances march. The cloud-refracted light flattered the stoles and cords of gold, blue, red, white and purple many graduating students wore down the front of their maroon gowns. These had taken honors based on grade point averages and/or had earned associate degrees through the Hope Collegiate Academy and/or had completed programs in a variety of disciplines.

The Welcome was made by HHS Principal Donald Patton. “We're here to honor the graduate class for their accomplishments of the past four years,” he said. “They have earned many honors, had many successes, struggles, and even failures, but achieved numerous goals. They are stepping into the future with knowledge and skills that have gained in the classroom, here and elsewhere.” He introduced members of his staff in attendance.

Patton then introduced prospective Honors Graduate Calvin Haynes to say the invocation. “Dear Heavenly Father,” he began. “We thank you for this time that we have to come here and celebrate the accomplishments that we've made of the work that we put in over the years. … We thank you for allowing the weather to hold off so that we can have this ceremony.  We pray that as we're about to enter a new challenge in our lives and a new step, we pray that you watch over us as you have already … In Jesus name we pray. Amen.”

Next came a rendition of the National Anthem from Arnetta Bradford that was rousing, yet full of subtle beauty. The crowd that filled one side of the stadium’s seating and was trying to fill the other applauded and called out praise.

For Opening Remarks, Superintendent Crossley began by expressing gratitude to the attendees for “celebrating these wonderful students who are graduating on a day when the weather is cooperating. So go ahead and knock on wood right now. Now we're going to keep that going. I'm going to keep that going.”

Crossley then requested those attending to look at someone nearby, make eye contact and say, “Hey, I love you.” After most did so, he said, “If it made you smile, that's good. Nothing wrong with smiling every once in a while, because here's the thing. We're here to celebrate excellence. But we're also here to celebrate love, the love that it took to get all of these students across the finish line, the love that it has taken every single day for them to get up and come and do their schoolwork, the love of teachers and administrators to help them to get across that finish line.” He then introduced members of the Hope Public Schools Board of Education in attendance, requested a round of applause for their leadership and said he would return with remarks later in the program.

Principal Patton next took the podium, presenting the soon-to-be honors graduates. Those earning a 4.0 grade point average and summa cum laude were asked to stand. These were Kaleo Anderson, Camron Robinson and Calvin Haynes. Then Patton introduced and asked to stand the 11 magna cum laude and ten cum laude graduates-to-be.  He read each of their names and each was applauded.

Director of Hope Collegiate Academy Sallie Nix then came to the podium to recognize students in that program involved in the commencement who had “successfully completed their first two years of college and earned their associates degree, which is the accumulation of 60 hours of concurrent credit credits.” She asked these to stand. They were applauded.

Hope High Vice Principal Elizabeth Richey then introduced the first student speaker, Camron Robinson, summa cum laude at Hope High and a recent graduate with a University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana associates degree, who will be majoring in medical science at UA-Fayetteville with emphasis on anesthesiology.

Robinson thanked all for coming out and then addressed her classmates, observing “we finally made it,” and saying she was honored to be speaking to them. Then she addressed the occasion. “Through all the tears, trials and homework assignments, we are finally here. It is time to move on to the next stepping stones of our young lives. Whether that's going to college, entering the workforce, or taking a mental break to figure out the next steps of your life, it's time to enter this big world and decide who we want to be or who we are.”

She gave two points of advice: first, keep going. “Some of you might have already tested this new world,” Robinson said. “Sometimes it can bite. I just hope that you all have the determination to persevere, to keep going when the road gets a little rough. When you keep walking, the road smooths out, and life gets a bit easier. There will always be rough patches and adversity. But when you keep going, you learn to get through them all easier. Life is unfair. If not, there would be no lessons for people to learn. The sooner you understand that, the easier it will be to overcome life's challenges.”

Next, be kind. “There's already enough evil in the world,” Robinson said. “And to change that, we first have to look at ourselves. So start with that man or woman in the mirror, and make that change. Maya Angelou said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said. They’ll forget what you did. But we'll never forget how you made them feel. So be sure to always be kind.”

Richey then introduced Kaleo Anderson, also summa cum laude whose “future plans are to attend Hendrix College in Conway Arkansas. His plans are to major in accounting.”

Anderson began by thanking “my classmates, the rest of the student body teachers, parents and staff who made these four years everything they were.” He then turned toward the autobiographical. “Anyone who knows me understands that I'm not a big talker. So I won't be up here very long. I don't have any wise words for the futures, any allegories just a brief picture of my story.”

He told of when in March of 2020, the COVID pandemic interrupted his ninth grade year in its second semester. “School as we knew it changed. I remember sitting in the living room waiting for Governor Asa Hutchinson, to inform us what the remaining year would look like. We made it through the pandemic together, from AMI packets to virtual learning, social distancing, and all the other changes. To our teachers, I want to say thank you. For every change we went through, every obstacle we had to maneuver, and through all the meltdowns, you all never gave up on us.”

Referring to his years playing football, Anderson said, “To my football coaches, I want to give a huge thanks. I found my passion, place and voice on the field. Everyone looks at our record each year and calls it unsuccessful. But what they don't know is that you all have not only equipped us with the tools to be successful on the field, but also in life. I'm forever grateful.”

Anderson then thanked his mother and described her commitment to continuing her own education to the point of vying for a doctorate as he has pursued his: “You taught me everything about studying, hard work, perseverance and determination. I remember we were reading books together when I was younger and had study time in the living room. And you always expected nothing but the best for me. Mama, I made it through this phase with you being the biggest supporter to my life, every sport I played, every extracurricular activity, every class. You also helped me with my decisions, while allowing it to be my choice. You have equipped me with the tools on me to start this new chapter in my life.”

In Anderson’s close, he told his classmates, “It is okay to be unsure about what your next chapter will be. It is okay to make mistakes. And it's also okay to say I need help. But always remember the words from my favorite scripture Philippians chapter four, verse 13. ‘I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.’ Thank you all for allowing me this great opportunity. Go Bobcats.”

Richey then introduced the Hope Public Schools superintendent as the event’s Honorable Speaker. Of she said, “I can confidently say that Dr. Crossley is passionate about creating equitable pathways to success for the next generation. He is also passionate about elevating the student experience and breaking down barriers that hinder students from thriving in the classroom … Welcome with me Dr Jonathan Crossley.”

Crossley began by saying he had decided rather than giving the hour and a half version or the 15-minute version, he would give the five-minute version.  He then said this year’s graduation is different. “You guys, the Collegiate Academy and all of you who are sitting here today went through the COVID year frantically. So you already know inherently challenges and how they come at you and how you have to adapt and be innovative to make those changes. So I was thinking, ‘What could I say to this class that I would have wanted someone to say to me when I was 17, 18, 19 years old.”

Citing Luke Chapter eight verses 22-25, Crossley told the story of Christ and his disciples trying to cross a great lake on a small boat and being led into a severe windstorm. At this point, his disciples awaken Christ from his nap.  He then is described as having “rebuked the wind and the raging waves” to bring about calm waters.  After this he asked of his disciples, “where is your faith?”

Crossley said, “While you may think this Scripture is odd, the message that I have today is the storm is the stage.” He then told of being aged 22 and receiving a phone call from the aunt that had “paved the way for me to enjoy people and enjoy being in front of people” and had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  In the call, Crossley said, she said she had only a month left but had some advice for him. “I want you to know something that needs to carry you for the rest of your life … Love God, and love others, put them before yourself.”

He then asked a question. “What if the true test and the true challenge, graduates, adults, community members, what if the true test is that we have is to get through the storm?  Then to be faced with another storm, to learn to grow, to do that better to go to the next stage, to work out your faith in fear and trembling, because we all have a long way to go?”

He then addressed the class of 2023 again. “I'm glad that you've persevered. I'm glad that you've gone across that lake fought that giant to go to your next journey. So whether that's a tough two-year college, a four-year college, the workplace, whatever your future may hold, know that you have a support system inside of this stadium and beyond that will carry you to your next phase. We love you. We are thankful for you. Please come back, give back and overcome.”

He closed with some final advice about how adversity often comes and what to do when it does. “When challenges come at you, they come at you in all ways, but they will help you grow and develop the most when you are the most tired. That's how they come your way. So students I'm going to say this: when you are your most tired, turn to your support system.”

Counselors Delma Stuart and Doni Watson took turns in announcing the names of each prospective graduate as they came forward to receive their diplomas, posed for the photographers and resumed their seats.  

Principal Patton presented to Superintendent Crossley the fact that the students had fulfilled their requirements. Crossley accepted this fact.  Then Patton declared that the graduates could now move their tassels.

The graduates’ mortars were thrown into the air of an overcast but still rainless day and as they marched off again in single file, the band playing the best tune of Elgar’s most famous march, the weather still looked good.