Friday, June 4, 2021

9:00 a.m.

Branchville High School Football Field

Branchville, South Carolina

Branchville High School Commencement Exercises

Class of 2021

Commencement Exercises

Prelude Order of Ceremonies

(Please Remain Standing Through The Invocation) Processional .......................... ... “Pomp and Circumstance” ...............................................

Dr. Shawn Foster, Superintendent Mr. Charles Gregory, Principal

Mrs. Debra Norman, Assistant Principal Ms. Natasha Grigg, School Counselor

The National Anthem

Invocation .................................................................................................... Alena Nikolaeva

Special Presentation ........................................... . .................................................. Sophia Li

Joseph C. Jackson Scholar Award .......................................................... Mrs. Valesta Twitty

Salutatory Address ........................................................................................... Destiny Rynes

Valedictory Address .................................................................................... Savannah Shuler

Presentation of Candidates for Diplomas ............................................. Mrs. Debra Norman

Awarding of Diplomas .......................................................................... Mr. Charles Gregory

Alma Mater ...................................... (On back cover) ...................................................... All

Benediction .................................................................................................... Sydney Garrett

Recessional

Attention: Parents, Friends, & Supporters

Please help us maintain decorum by staying in seats while the ceremony is proceeding. A professional photographer is capturing each graduating student plus images of the program itself. To view images of all graduates, go to cecilwilliamsmuseum.com; then click EVENT PROOFS. Viewing of images is at no charge, but you may purchase downloads or printed packages of your choice. If addition-al information is needed, please call 803-531-1662.

§ Valedictorian £ Salutatorian ∞ Honor ₰ South Carolina Seal of Biliteracy

Gold Stole -Beta Club Gold Cord -Honor Graduate Red Cord -TRMC Blood Donor Blue Cord -CACC Completer Grey Cord– Early College Completer

Class of 2021

Abraham, JayQuan Amerie

Arends, Haley Alexis ∞

Banks, Olivia Ruth ∞

Bolin, Christian Bryce

Branham, Emma Kay

Brown, India Tanaya ∞

Cooper, Marissa Danielle ∞

Dantzler, Tyler Jeffrey

Davis, Dakota Micheal ∞

Davis, Laken Anne ∞

Davis, Ma'shaya Goldie

Dukes, Aaron Norman

Elliott, Zander Allen ∞

Fasenmyer, Chevy Daniel

Fralix, Daniel Wade

Funchess, Chad Victor

Garrett, Sydney Leigh ∞

Green, Shamar Marquel

Hall, Chase Allen

Hernandez, Oscar

Hess, Haley Marie ∞

Hughes, Faith Kristen ∞

Hunt, Allan Parker

Hutto, Elizabeth Meree ∞

Insua, Amber Nichole

Johnson, Jalen

Joyner, Wilson Dean

Kirven, Darla Susan ∞

Leggett, Carter Johnathan

Li, Sophia ∞

Lincoln, Malachi Sa'Jean

Littreal, Faith Lanay ∞

Mims, Alissia Shyenne

Moore, Walker Twimon

Nikolaeva, Alena Vladimirovna ∞ ₰

Ott, Brady Christopher

Ott, Robert Vernon ∞

Postell, CheyAnne Danelle ∞

Preast, Abrum Logan ∞

Preast, Maycee Marie

Rodenberger, Tyler Robert ∞

Rutland, Desereah Jeannette ∞

Rynes, Destiny Elizabeth Patsy ∞ £

Shuler, Savannah Leigh ∞ §

Skolasky, Gunnar August

Smith, Brian Andrew ∞

Smith, Connor Garrett

Smoak, Drayton Andrew

Weathersbee, Amanda Lee

Williams, Rodriguez Terrell

Valedictorian

Savannah Leigh Shuler

Savannah Leigh Shuler is the daughter of Kenneth and Heather Shuler.

Savannah is a conscientious student and an active participant in Branchville High

School’s many activities. While taking high school courses and college-level courses

through Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College’s Dual Enrollment program, she also

served as the Senior Editor of the school’s yearbook, The Yellow Jacket. She was named

to the OCtech President’s List for maintaining an A-average in all of her classes.

Savannah is also a member of Branchville High School’s Beta Club and was the winner

of second-place honors for her creative writing entry at the National Beta Club

convention in Fort Worth, Texas in 2020. She was awarded the Life Scholarship and

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for her outstanding academic achievements.

During her high school years, Savannah served as a Junior Marshall and the Junior Class

Vice-President and was a member of Branchville High School’s State Championship

volleyball team. She is a completer of the Project Lead the Way program at Cope Area

Career Center, where she was named the ROAR Award winner – Respect, Order,

Achievement, and Responsibility. During summers, Savannah has attended camps to

broaden her knowledge in many fields including the Clemson University Summer Scholar

for Landscape Architecture (2018), the South Carolina Governor’s School for Math and

Science Astrophysics Camp (2017), NASA’s Camp Kennedy Space Center (2017), Clemson

University’s Summer Scholar for Civil Engineering (2016), and the Clemson University

Camp for Women in Science and Engineering (2014).

In her leisure time, Savannah enjoys creative writing and, in the future, has plans to

complete a fantasy novel she is currently working on.

After graduating, Savannah will attend Clemson University where she plans to double

major in business/marketing and English.

Salutatorian Destiny Elizabeth Patsy Rynes

Destiny Elizabeth Patsy Rynes is the daughter of Ashley Rynes.

Destiny’s hard work and diligence as a student at Branchville High School has led to

great success. She is a member of the school’s Beta Club and has earned several awards

during state and national conventions. She was named third place winner in both the

creative writing and English competitions at the 2019 state convention in Myrtle Beach,

fourth-place winner of the creative writing award at the national convention in 2019 in

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and second place winner in creative writing at the state

convention in Myrtle Beach in 2021. In addition, Destiny was a member of the

Branchville High School band and was honored for her superior artistic talent as a

trumpet player by being invited to participate in a solo ensemble at the Claflin University

Edisto Conference in 2019.

Destiny has consistently maintained an A-average in her coursework in both high school

credits and dual-enrollment courses with Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. She has

earned transferrable credit hours through OCtech and has been named to the college’s

President’s List. Destiny has been awarded the Life Scholarship and the Palmetto

Fellows Scholarship for her academic excellence.

In previous years, Destiny was a member of the Orangeburg County 4-H Club and has

participated in calf shows at the Orangeburg County Fair. Her other hobbies include

creative writing, reading, and skating.

Destiny will be attending Clemson University in the fall of 2021. Her aspiration is to

major in political science, with a minor in legal studies.

Gabriel Scott Vallentine

December 30, 2002 – October 8, 2019

In Memory of

BRANCHVILLE HIGH

JUNIOR ACADEMIC MARSHALS

Jacob Blankenship

Maggie Bonnette

Gracen Harris

Carley Kinard

Andrew Sealing

ALMA MATER

Hail to thee our Branchville High School,

We praise thy name.

Ever watchful, ever faithful,

Ever the same.

Memories sweet of work and pleasure

Through the years we’ll always treasure

So to thee our Alma Mater,

Proudly we sing.

High School Faculty

Zachary Ard

Brandi Boan

Katie Crosby

Wayne Dukes

Lillie Dunning

Megan Hammond

Kelly Hayden

Christy Hughes

John Infinger

Kathy Johnson

Wendy Morancie

Ronald Nester

Daniel Reynolds

Michael Salomone

Amy Sweat

Elizabeth Tritapoe

Patricia Weathers

Board of Trustees

District Administrators Dr. Shawn Foster

Superintendent

Dr. Liana Calloway

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

Dr. Andress Carter-Sims

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction

Mr. Robert C. Grant

Assistant Superintendent of Operations

Mr. Ernest Holiday

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Mrs. Merry Glenne Piccolino

Assistant Superintendent of Communications, Business & Community Partnerships

Mrs. Gail Sanders

Assistant Superintendent of Finance

Dr. Jesse Washington, III

District Ombudsman

Mrs. Ruby G. Edwards, Chair Dr. Sylvia Bruce-Stephens

Dr. Debora B. Brunson, Vice-Chair Mrs. Peggy James-Tyler

Mrs. Idella W. Carson, Secretary Dr. William O’Quinn

Dr. R.L. Brown, Parliamentarian Mrs. Betty M. Pelzer

Mrs. Mary B. Ulmer