Carson High School graduates and Principal DelliSanti say goodbye
Published 6:14 pm Saturday, June 8, 2019
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST Members of the Carson Chorus perform a song for the graduates. Jesse Carson high school was one of several Rowan Salisbury high schools that held their commencement exercise early Saturday morning. The threat of rain forced the ceremonies indoors. Carson graduated 284 seniors on Saturday in a packed gym as extra guests watched via video feed from the overflow area in the schools auditorium. China Grove, NC 6/8/19
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST Hayden Trayah (center, right) struggles through the emotions of his commencement speech but was supported by fellow speakers and classmates, Reagan Taylor, Cade Rodgers (center) and Hannah Jones (right). Jesse Carson high school was one of several Rowan Salisbury high schools that held their commencement exercise early Saturday morning. The threat of rain forced the ceremonies indoors. Carson graduated 284 seniors on Saturday in a packed gym as extra guests watched via video feed from the overflow area in the schools auditorium. China Grove, NC 6/8/19
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST Principal Angelo DelliSanti hands graduate Vivian Cline her diploma. Jesse Carson high school was one of several Rowan Salisbury high schools that held their commencement exercise early Saturday morning. The threat of rain forced the ceremonies indoors. Carson graduated 284 seniors on Saturday in a packed gym as extra guests watched via video feed from the overflow area in the schools auditorium. China Grove, NC 6/8/19
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST The graduates toss their hats in celebration. Jesse Carson high school was one of several Rowan Salisbury high schools that held their commencement exercise early Saturday morning. The threat of rain forced the ceremonies indoors. Carson graduated 284 seniors on Saturday in a packed gym as extra guests watched via video feed from the overflow area in the schools auditorium. China Grove, NC 6/8/19
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST Dakota Surratt (center) is all smiles after graduation. Jesse Carson high school was one of several Rowan Salisbury high schools that held their commencement exercise early Saturday morning. The threat of rain forced the ceremonies indoors. Carson graduated 284 seniors on Saturday in a packed gym as extra guests watched via video feed from the overflow area in the schools auditorium. China Grove, NC 6/8/19
CHINA GROVE — In Carson High School auditorium, the clock was set to 20:19 with the score 6-8.
Students reminisced walking into the school four years and thought about leaving the school likely for the last time as they turned their tassels Saturday morning.
“Four years ago we entered the doors of Carson High School for the very first time, and today at the conclusion of the ceremony, we’re going to walk out of the doors for the very last time,” Cade Rodgers, a student speaker, said.
The commencement was also a goodbye to not only the class of 2019, but to principal Angelo DelliSanti, who after five years leading the school will move on to A.L Brown High School in Kannapolis.
Hannah Jones, the senior class president, took time at the beginning of the speech to give a shout out to DelliSanti, saying he will have a large and positive impact on Brown as he did at Carson.
“He’s had a large impact on the school,” Jones said. “Mr. DelliSanti brought many traditions to Carson and created even more of a welcoming environment not only to students and staff but to families and parents too.”
Reagan Taylor, the student body president, said she looked forward to see what A.L. Brown has in store from him. She started off the commencement ceremony with a joke: “What is DelliSanti’s favorite snack?”
“A salami sandwich from a deli,” she told the graduates and their families.
Rodgers encouraged his fellow graduates to enjoy the journey because it’s often better than the destination, a lesson it took him time to understand.
“I thought this was ridiculous. In what way is nine-hour car ride in the back of a Honda Civic better than being at Disney World?” Rodgers said. “Come on, it doesn’t make any sense.”
He continued that the pep rallies and the spirit days and even fire drills in the freezing cold will be what they remember above the commencement ceremony.
Hayden Trayah, a student speaker, said their years at Carson will set the stage for what’s next and reminded them never to settle. Trayah choked up telling the graduates to take time to that their parents, calling out “I love you mom.” Several students stood with him as he continued on.
“This is it,” he said.
DelliSanti got the last joke after Trayah’s speech as he prepared to pass out the diplomas, saying “now that we made it through that…”
After 276 Carson class of 2019 graduates received the diplomas, they turned their tassels and filled the air of auditorium with their caps.
