Michonne D. Parker
Oakwood Academy
Valedictorian is an academic title typically conferred in the United States upon the highest ranked student among those being graduated from an educational institution. The term is an anglicized derivation of the Latin vale dicer ("to say farewell"), historically rooted in the valedictorian's traditional role as the final speaker at the graduation ceremony. The valedictory address generally is considered a final farewell to classmates, before they disperse to pursue their individual paths after graduating.
val·e·dic·to·ri·an [val-i-dik-tawr-ee-uhn]
–noun
a student, usually the one ranking highest academically in a school graduating class, who delivers the valedictory at the commencement exercises.
Origin: 1750–60, Americanism; valedictory + -an
Use Valedictorian in a Sentence:
My niece, Michonne D. Parker, was the Valedictorian of her graduating class today.
The weekend flew by in the humid red clay state of Alabama. The candlelight consecration service on Friday night, the Saturday morning worship service, the Saturday afternoon mushy, dramatic, tear flowing tributes from graduates to their parents. The final day of Commencement Sunday morning at 10:00am. I've already mentioned Michonne giving the valediorian address. Of course that was my highlight moment. Other honorable mentions are:
Alabama State Assembly Laura Hall volunteering on a phone conversation I had with her two days before to come make remarks and congratulate Michonne at the ceremony.
Terri White-Mitchell, one of my college classmate, was one of the graduating class sponsors. Her leadership reduce the length of this blog entry because Terri is organized, pay attention to the details and basically takes care of business. She was like that in college too.
Dr. Philip Williams, another one of my college classmate, skill of bringing out the melodious sounds of the choir, many of whom were graduates. At the Sabbath service, he had alumni join on a selection which was just the bomb.
Michonne both set of grandparents traveled to honor her achievement. Mrs. Valentine, on her birthday weekend, had other grandchildren in other states also graduating, one on the same weekend and she was able to make them all: thank God for airplanes. Elder and Mrs Parker, who doesn't seem to miss any graduations, were there and first to be dressed and ready to go at the wonderful age of 85.
The only blooper of the weekend was my 3pm flight out of Nashville to return home. It meant as soon as the benediction was given, I had to scurry to the car for the trip back to Nashville. I was able to hug Michonne and take a couple of pictures with the family. (See below).
Though it was a quick trip and fast pace weekend, it was enjoyed by all the Valentine-Parker Clan celebrating the family's first valedictorian.
