It is with great pride and pleasure that I present the Cumberland High School Class of 2018.

Members of the Senior Class, composed of 94 young men and women, have now completed their high school experiences. Several of them started with me as students in the PreK-3 class when I began my career at Cumberland County Public Schools (CUCPS) as their elementary school principal.

Dr. Amy Griffin

Members of the Class of 2018 made significant accomplishments during their time at CUCPS and have now finished with a 93 percent on-time graduation rate, which exceeds the current state average of 91 percent. Moreover, 53 students graduated with an Advanced Studies Diploma and 32 earned Academic Jackets. Quite a few members of the class have plans to join the military (including the U. S. Army, the Marines and the National Guard) or already have a job lined up.

Before graduation, 20 members of the class earned an associate degree from Southside Virginia Community College and many graduates have plans to continue with higher education after graduation. Members of the class have collectively earned over $600,000 in scholarships and have been accepted into the following institutions of higher learning: Averett University, Coastal Carolina University, Central Virginia Community College, ECPI University, Full Sail University, George Mason University, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Johnson and Wales University, John Tyler Community College, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Longwood University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Southside Virginia Community College, The Art Institute, University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

The Class of 2018 was unique in several ways. The Class had a foreign exchange student from Poland who became a Cumberland High School (CHS) international graduate. The class also had one student, chosen as one of nine out of an applicant pool of over 9,000 across the entire United States, who traveled to Brazil as part of the U.S. Youth Ambassador Exchange Program.

Three CHS graduates attended the Call Me Mister program at Longwood University, one graduate attended the minority Law Institute at Southern University in Baton Rouge, one student attended the West Point Summer Leadership Experience held at the U.S. Military Academy, three students attended the American Legion Boys State at Radford University, and six graduates attended the American Legion Girls State at Longwood University. This was also the first senior class to have a senior class trip in many years—members raised enough money to take a trip to the Carowinds and Sea Life Aquarium in North Carolina.

All seniors completed a senior project as a requirement for graduation, which included completing a project or internship regarding a specific career field. Senior projects revealed that members of the Class of 2018 had a wide variety of career interests, including law, medicine, education, welding, physical therapy, culinary arts, computer science, business administration, carpentry and graphic artistry.

Members of the Class of 2018 also made notable achievements in athletics. The boys basketball team, composed primarily of seniors, went to the state competition for the first time in 27 years—the last time a CHS basketball team achieved this distinction was in 1991 when their coach, Mr. Tyrone Mosby, went as a CHS player. In addition, one team member was named Player of the Year in Region 1B and made the second team VHSL All State Team.

Other athletic triumphs included having one member of the cross-country team finish 20th at the VSHL State Cross-Country Championship, having two wrestlers qualify for the VHSL Wrestling Tournament, and having on senior attend the VHSL All State Track & Field Team (where he finished fourth place in the 300 meter event, fifth place in the 500 meter event, and eighth place in the triple jump).

Members of the Class of 2018 also participated in many extra-curricular activities, including drama, forensics, JROTC competitions and events, robotics competitions and numerous clubs. Class members also demonstrated their citizenship by participating in activities such as the Betty Scales Day of Service, working with Habitat for Humanity, assisting with the local food pantry, helping raise money during Jump Rope for Heart, and joining the Walk for Education to raise money for scholarships and educational materials.

I congratulate the Class of 2018. These students have not only achieved great things from their prekindergarten through 12th grade experience, but have grown into wonderful, loving, compassionate young adults who have supported each other during good times and bad, given to those in need, and provided services to the community. They have represented themselves as well as their families, class, school division, and the Cumberland community very well. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate that they have let me be part of their lives.

DR. AMY GRIFFIN is division superintendent of Cumberland County Public Schools. Her email address is agriffin@cucps.k12.va.us.