A night to remember - Alleghany High School's senior class members light candles as Keshia Spurlin sings "Keep the Candle Burning" during the graduation ceremony held Monday night in the Sparta Elementary School Auditorium. It was standing room only for the event, which was moved indoors due to inclement weather earlier in the day. A total of 78 seniors graduated.

Alleghany High has 78 graduates in Class of 2002 Monday night

Alleghany High School's Class of 2002, one of the smallest in recent memory, graduated Monday night at the Sparta Elementary School Auditorium. The 78-member class was made up of 44 boys and 34 girls.

The class valedictorian was Mary Carmichael.

In the photo at right, Lise Bloodworth, the class salutatorian, receives congratulations from guidance counselor Winkie Clifton after getting her diploma. The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2002, one of the smallest in recent memory, lasted for a little less than an hour.

The service began with seniors walking in single-file to Pomp and Circumstance, but ended with an eruption of toilet paper rolls, mortarboards and silly string.

In between, several speakers offered advice to the class, including several of its own members. Honor speakers included Alex Phipps, Stephanie Stolt and Ashley Hawkins.

Baccalaureate speaker Father Stan McGraw of Christ Church Episcopal of Sparta told the students, "Not many years ago I sat where you now sit, in an auditorium packed with people."

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