PHOTOS: Cumberland Academy Class of 2024 graduation

Published 5:45 am Friday, May 24, 2024

On Thursday night, 124 seniors from Cumberland Academy High School gathered inside UT Tyler’s Herrington Patriot Center, ready to receive their diplomas.

Cumberland Academy High School Principal Amber Ledbetter opened the ceremony with acknowledgement of the students’ hard work.

Senior class treasurer William Blevins led the Pledge of Allegiance; co-secretary Madelyn Harry led the Texas Pledge, followed by Blevins, Mya Kennedy and Mikaila Linch with the National Anthem.

This year’s salutatorian Cayl Balsingame talked about facing some of the challenges of today’s world.

“We are not the first generation that has been tasked with fixing the world but nonetheless, it is our turn,” he said. “As I see it, we can surrender a part of our humanity and instead choose to relish in the rewards of the past here on the stage … or we can accept this implicit responsibility, choose to move forward, grow, build, improve, explore what it really means to live the human experience. We have options.”

Ledbetter recognized many honors, such as National Honor Society, Tyler Junior College Dual Credit students and many others, as well as those ready to serve in the United States military.

This year’s valedictorian Benjamin Root told his classmates about persevering, even when it’s hard.

“Being content with who I was freshman year is not how I made it to this podium today,” he said. “Neither will fearing the shadow pushing me into the future I am seeking. I realized that I needed to continuously change, continuously challenge myself, face the shadow so that I could be better than who I was yesterday so that today I can I’m closer to my goals.”

Senior class co-secretary Elena Garcia introduced keynote speaker Charles Pulliam, CEO and senior partner of Solushiens, who spoke to the graduating class about the value of hard work.

“Your future is brighter than you know,” he said, “if you let it.”

Ledbetter, Superintendent Tim Schodowski and Cumberland Academy teacher Julie Westerman-Develin presented the graduates with their diplomas.

Senior class vice president Ethan-Leon Duffey congratulated his peers in a benediction address, and senior class co-president Bobby Cotton dismissed the graduates.