'Unorthodox high school experience': Polk's Class of 2022 reaches the finish line

LAKELAND — Polk County public high schools kicked off graduation week with some panther pride as Mulberry High School graduates walked across the stage at the RP Funding Center and received their diplomas from Principal Michael Young.

“As you graduate to the next stage of life, remember who you are and all that you can achieve,” Young told the crowd of graduates, parents and friends. “You are panthers – congratulations!”

Salutatorian Zach Abram Buffington, who graduated with a 4.529 grade point average and lettered in multiple sports, referenced the “unorthodox high school experience” they all endured during the COVID-19 pandemic. And then he acknowledged the people who made it possible, along with some of his classmates, including:

• Jamel Curry, who overcame serious surgery to return to the football field and earn football scholarship offers from 15 schools.

• Jacob Ritchie, whose mother, Maria Hernandez, who worked in the MHS guidance office, died of COVID.

• Tukalaya Sims, who struggles with sickle cell anemia but still graduated with honors Thursday.

• Noah Sells, who lost his father his sophomore year but still achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated with honors.

• And Marien Martinez De La Portiya, who moved to the United States this year and spoke limited English, but still earned her diploma.

Their moment: Polk County high school graduations in photos

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Finally, he acknowledged Young.

“Mr. Young, you care about every student,” Buffington said. “Even when you were battling cancer, you showed up for us. We noticed (you) walking around campus and talking to us like one of your own. We know how important we are to you. Thank you, Mr. Young, for every day you give to us.”

Mulberry was the first of 16 regular high schools to pick up their diplomas, with ceremonies scheduled to end on May 25 with the Fresh Start Program students, many of whom struggled with hardships to make it to graduation day.

At the Tenoroc High School graduation later in the afternoon, the little brother of Freddie Hawthorne III accepted his diploma. Hawthorne died in September.

While most Polk County public high schools hold their ceremonies at the RP Funding Center, three still host their ceremonies at their home football stadiums: Auburndale High, Fort Meade Middle-Senior and Frostproof Middle-Senior.

Tickets are required at the RP Funding Center, although seating is not assigned. Instead, it is general admission and first-come, first-served. Graduation information is available on the district’s website.

The ceremonies taking place at the RP Funding Center are being livestreamed on the Polk County Public Schools Youtube channel.

Several class of 2022 seniors have made notable accomplishments.

Sachin Sivakumar, a senior at the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High, has won a National Merit Scholarship worth $2,500.

Sivakumar was one of 2,500 Merit Scholar designees announced recently, chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, based on criteria including their academic record and contributions to their school and community.

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School Salutatorian Laura Burse graduated with her bachelor's in applied science in supervision and management before even picking up her high school diploma. She has been accepted into the University of Florida’s master of arts in mass communication program.

And Auburndale High School’s Karah Weber is graduating exactly 50 years after her grandmother, Sally Glasscock Porter, who graduated from Auburndale High School in 1972. Weber’s mother, Calisse Porter Weber, also graduated from Auburndale High school in 1998, 50 years after her grandmother, Rita Hutcheson Glasscock, who graduated in 1948. Karah Weber is the 98th person in her family to graduate from AHS.

PCPS is asking seniors to share their graduation photos on social media with the hastag #PolkGrad22.

Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk's public high school 2022 graduations began Thursday