For most of the 16 students walking across the TCCHS Auditorium stage on Friday night, it was a second chance to complete their education with Todd County Horizons High School.
A sense of loss touched the graduation ceremony when Superintendent Jessica Addison called for a moment of silence to honor Principal Bryan Morris. Morris, who had led the school for nearly two years, passed away at his residence on April 29th.
During the ceremony, Todd County native Michael Andrews was the featured speaker. After a 40-year career with the United States Department of Agriculture, Andrews returned to his roots in Guthrie to farm fresh produce and co-found the Homeboy BBQ and King Fish food truck. A dedicated community leader, he serves on the Kentucky State University Extension Service and actively mentors local youth through agricultural education and church outreach programs.
Raised in a large family, Andrews was the seventh of nine children born to the late James Hart Andrews Sr. and Mary Alice Flowers Andrews. He shared that he was born following a miscarriage, arriving as a “miracle baby” after doctors advised his mother not to have any more children.
Andrews reminded the graduates that receiving a second chance in life means finding a purpose and doing something meaningful with it. He credited an early second chance to his late math teacher, Virginia Howard.
Andrews also shared an example of a student in Webster County who was failing a class and was an athlete, meaning he was not eligible to practice. He would lead him through solving algebra problems.
After Andrews’ speech, the students walked the stage. They included: Zachary Abbott, Gavin Downey, Zaine Gadbois, Da’Quan Garner, Kaylee Gillespey, Logan Gillingham, Alexandra Hurtt, Elijah Marshall, Anthony Mitchell, Titus Rager, Brentton Rives, Parker Russell, Samuel Smallwood, Kalani Snardon, Ja’Von Sydnor, and Jocelyn Utley.
Before the ceremony ended, Horizons Teacher Melanie Turner offered some advice to the graduates.
