Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Standing in lines in the school lobby, Flomaton’s Class of 2022 sang the alma mater before processing into the auditorium for the last time as students.

Eighty students received diplomas during graduation exercises May 26 at FHS.

Valedictorian Charles Henley thanked the Escambia County Schools board members, FHS staff and faculty for their efforts.

“For our class, we began in August 2018, as we entered the ninth grade,” Henley said. “We were probably wanting to get to the finish line and begin as an adult as quickly as possible.”

Henley spoke about how time flew during their high school years. He talked about highlights from each year, and the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought.

“This year, we have grown closer together, and for all four years, we’ve had excellent leadership,” he said. “The challenges we’ve faced throughout our time in high school has made our class resilient. We must use this time and save up that success in the future.”

Henley encouraged his classmates to invest early, not only in money, but in times with loved ones.

Salutatorian Lori Knowles said she looks on her 13 years as a student at Flomaton with nothing but appreciation and for the students and staff.

“I am very proud to call this special place home,” Knowles said. “The past six years at Flomaton High School have flown by, but included times that will last a lifetime.”

Knowles said after graduation, each member of the class will part ways and start a new chapter in their lives.

“Together, we have experienced firsts,” she said. “We have also experienced lasts.”

Knowles said while some classmates have been at Flomaton since kindergarten, no matter where they came from, “always know that Flomaton is your home, too.”

Knowles spoke about the class’s high school years.

“The road to get here wasn’t easy, but we’ve had an amazing support system along the way,” she said. “We’d like to say ‘thank you.’ High school is the highlight of our lives. It’s the first chapter for the rest of our lives.”

Those who graduated FHS on Thursday included:

Henley, Knowles, Nate Turner, MacKenzie Morrison, Sadie Schreiner, Jalia Lassiter, Harlie Spoon, Jonathan Moore, Baleigh Johnson, William Rollin, William Allen, Braylee Alverson, Matthew Barrow, Amber Beasley, Hezekiah Bell, Christian Black, Benjamin Boutwell, Jordyn Boutwell, Troy Brewer, Emily Brown, Kaylee Buckley, Dustin Carnley, Daisy Chavers, Kristen Coleman, Jaden Conn, Nevaeh Cox, Zander Crawford, Nathalie Creamer, Jenny Davidson, Samuel Davis, Olivia Emmons, Da’merion Findley, Christina Fowler, Sara Fowler, Bradley Freeman, Ivan Glenn, Tykheria Hall, Dalton Hanks, Meredith Harrison, Faith Hastings, Megan Jackson, Harley Jerkins, Kyleigh Johnson, Forrest Jones III, Jonathon Jossey, Samantha Kenney, Austin Lambeth, Madison Lambeth, Emmaleigh Langford, Ashanti Lowery, Catalina Lowery, Isabelle Martin, Brian McDonald, Rease McGill, Audreana McMillan, Jordan Mixon, Jessica Peek, Za’Kharia Peeples, Jayden Presley, Jackson Reed, Patricia Rogers, Destinee Rolin, Madlynn Rydzowski, Wesley Scarborough, Savana Searcy, Tatiana Silva, Jaxon Singleton, Brayden Smallwood, Mychael Smith, Sadie Smith, Trevarly Smith, John Steele, Nick Turner, Zeb Vickery, Noah Weaver, Elizabeth White, Christopher Willis, Birdie Wilson, Tyler Wilson and Bianca Wright.

ECSS Superintendent Michele McClung welcomed family and guests to the ceremony, and asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.