BLACKSVILLE — The dreary weather couldn’t dampen the mood at Clay-Battelle High School on Friday evening as the Class of 2026 walked across the stage and entered a new stage of their lives.
Fifty-four seniors graduated Friday evening and walked out of the Statler Gymnasium with 54 bright futures.
“It’s always nice to see the students get to this point in their lives,” said Mitch Channel, principal of Clay-Battelle High School. “They climbed the mountain to get to this significant peak in their life — graduation. I’m really excited for them.”
Channel added a few words of parting wisdom for his graduates.
“Keep working hard, and you’ll go far in life.”
For senior Josh Wilson, graduation couldn’t have come soon enough.
“It feels good to be done,” Wilson said. “I also served as the sergeant at arms for the student council, and that was fun.”
Wilson’s time at Clay-Battelle was full of fun moments playing football and basketball.
Ginger Gross, another senior and secretary of the student body, noted that it felt surreal to be graduating.
“We’ve been at Clay-Battelle for the past seven years. It has been a big part of our lives, and it feels surreal to be leaving,” she said.
Gross added that she plans to play volleyball at Davis & Elkins College and study exercise science before eventually pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Wilson said he plans to work for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.
Gross also gave her fellow seniors some words of wisdom.
“If you are ever wondering whether you should do something, do it,” she said. “Even if it’s a mistake, still do it so you never question whether or not you should have done it.”
