photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors participate in the school's graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

With the COVID-19 pandemic touching almost every aspect of the high school experience, the last 14 months haven’t been easy for Lawrence High School’s seniors, Superintendent Anthony Lewis said at the school’s commencement ceremony on Tuesday.

Lewis said the seniors experienced extreme emotions, felt deep concerns and lived through many changes, but they found a way to overcome it all and complete their high school education.

“You made the very best of a situation that was completely out of your control,” Lewis said. “Take these individual experiences with you … and let them propel you to become successful adults.”

About 350 Lawrence High seniors celebrated the end of their high school careers Tuesday in front of friends and family at Allen Fieldhouse. The new graduates were the 147th class to earn their diplomas from LHS.

While Lewis had plenty of inspirational comments for the graduates, he told them Tuesday that it was their perseverance that inspired him. He said that now, with their diplomas in hand, they could achieve anything they put their mind to.

“The best is yet to come,” he said.

That sentiment was echoed by student speakers Trinity Shorter and Jelani Ragins, who told their classmates LHS had provided them with the foundation to go on and do great things.

In the address, Shorter said the class she was speaking to might contain a future Olympic gold medalist or an entertainer on par with Beyoncé, or even someone who would find a cure for cancer.

“Lawrence High has given us the foundation to accomplish all of our dreams,” Shorter said. “Now it’s up to us to take it and run with it.”

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors Trinity Shorter and Jelani Ragins address the graduating class at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Allen Fieldhouse. Shorter also won the school’s Citizen of the Year Award.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School senior Corban Oberzan addresses the graduating class at the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

Another speaker, Corban Oberzan, said the last year had been one to remember for the graduates because of the pandemic. But he said there were many other memories of his teachers and classmates that he would always keep with him.

He left his fellow graduates with a reminder to be the best they could be as they set out into the world as adults.

“Always believe in yourself … and love one another,” he said.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Teacher Matthew Ellis participates in Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Allen Fieldhouse. Ellis won a teaching award at the ceremony.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Dwayne Dunn, director of choral activities, participates in Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Deputy Superintendent Anna Stubblefield participates in Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors Bella Kirkwood and Raef Landes participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors Laura Teska and Jackson Stoll participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School senior Madeline Bills participates in Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Superintendent Anthony Lewis and Lawrence High School Associate Principal Mark Preut chat before the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

A group of guests cheer on Lawrence High School senior Kallun Chitama at Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School senior Caroline Dunlap participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School senior Sydney Delfelder participates in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Superintendent Anthony Lewis introduces Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School seniors Elyssa Hancock and Ethan Gaddie participate in the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

School board President Kelly Jones speaks at Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School Interim Principal Cynthia Johnson speaks during the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Allen Fieldhouse.