By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The 56th Commencement Program for Tipton-Rosemark Academy was held Saturday morning in the sanctuary of Millington First Baptist Church. The 55 members of the Class of 2026 were the centerpiece of the event starting with heir processional and the invocation by class Salutatorian Landon Hatchel.
Once the students and audience took their seats, TRA Head of School Any Graham Jr. gave the welcome. Nora Scott delivered the scripture reading and Valedictorian Belen Castro-Hair gave the speech on Christian Service & Leadership.
Class Historian Madeline Akerson gave the introduction for guest speaker Pastor Derek Westmoreland.
The pulpit of First Baptist is familiar territory for Westmoreland as the regular senior pastor of the church. He is also a common face for the students at TRA with a routine visit on the campus. He gave the graduates four points of advice to take with them into the ‘real world.’ Supported by scripture, Westmoreland’s main purpose of his sermon was to encourage the students to keep their faith no matter what.
TRA Fine Arts Director Lalania Vaughn directed the entire senior class in a song setting up Victoria Davidson (15-year club) and Carrie Ann Fullen (14-year-club) to provide reflections for the Class of 2026.
The annual awards and scholarships were presented by Graham and Dr. Stephanie Wehrer. The Bobby and Joe Baker Excellence in Teacher Awards were presented to Lower School’s Sylvia Brown and Upper School’s Virginia Vego. Then the top 10 was recognized and Hatchel got a chance to stand to be honored for his 33 score on the ACT.
The Hornsby Scholarship winner was Gabriella Khatter. The Davidson Scholarship winners were Tori Davidson and Belen Castro-Hair. The Roland Leadership Scholarship winner was Madeline Akerson. The Vaughn Family Scholarship winners were Mary Pence and Sequoia Slayman.
The Fisher Memorial Scholarship winners were Lanie Howe and Lola Sprenkle. And the South Tipton Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year was Nix Fullen.
After the Senior Video, it was time for the presentation of diplomas to Madeline Akerson, Austin Alexander, Ryan Boak, Allison Brenner, Belen Castro-Hairk, Dixie Crisel, Victoria Davidson, Kristian Ray Donahoo, Dominic Dotson, Carrie Fullen, Jameson Fullen, Caleb Gaines, Corbin Garcia, Caedon Goodrum, Sadie Griffin, Julianna Harber, Jaxson Hardaway, Landon Hatchel, Jesse Hearn, John Herring, Knox Holmes, Lanie Howe, Smith Howe, Keeper Jackson II, Joshua Johnson, Gabriella Khatter, Ryder Malm, Nathaniel Miles III, Vito Ofiara, Jackson Paganoni, Mary Pence, Cort Peterson, Chase Pettit, Levi Pitt, Jonathon Salzman, Josiah Sanders, Joshua Sanfratello, Nora Scott, Graeme Sealy, Lily Sere, Yianni Sinis, Sequoia Slayman, Jackson Smith, Lola Sprenkle, Matthew Talley, Caroline Turner, Owen Van Meter, Dnharayane Vital, Jordan Walker, Sebastian Walker, Lathan Walls, Mason Williams, Demetric Words, and Kingston Words.
