CONWAY — Members of Kennett High's Class of 2021 had a weekend they'll never forget.
After spending the past year and third of their high school careers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 181 Eagles were able to take off their masks, see smiles on their classmates' faces and receive their diplomas atop Mount Cranmore,
kAm“%H@ E9:?8D DE@@5 @FE E@ >6[” D2:5 $FA6C:?E6?56?E z6G:? #:492C5[ H9@ 2EE6?565 E96 D6?:@C 32?BF6E 2?5 82>6D 2E zw$[ E96? E96 D64@?5 2??F2= z6??6EE z2C2G2? @? $2EFC52J[ 7@==@H65 3J 6:89E 9@FCD 2E E96 DF>>:E @7 rC2?>@C6 AC6D6?E:?8 5:A=@>2D @? $F?52J] “~?6 H2D E96 32?BF6E 2?5 D66:?8 2== @7 E96 <:5D D>:=:?8 2?5 92G:?8 7F? 2?5 2 46CE2:? =6G6= @7 7C665@> E92E 8@6D H:E9 E92E] xE H2D 8C62E E@ 36 23=6 E@ 3C:?8 324< D@>6 F?3C:5=65 7F?]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “%96 D64@?5 E9:?8 H2D D:>A=J E96 46=63C2E:@? 2E E96 E@A @7 |@F?E rC2?>@C6] z6G:? r2CA6?E6C WAC:?4:A2= @7 zw$X[ >F49 =:<6 2? }qp 2??@F?46C 5@:?8 :?EC@5F4E:@?D[ 925 E96 D2>6 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 — :E H2D E6CC:7:4] {2DE J62C[ x E9@F89E E96 W42C2G2?X H2D 2 42E92CE:4 A:646 E@ 8C25F2E:@?] %9:D J62C[ :E H2D >F49 >@C6 2 ECF6 46=63C2E:@?]”k^Am
kAm~? $2EFC52J >@C?:?8[ D6?:@C z26=2 q@@E93J[ H9@ 92D ;@:?65 E96 p:C u@C46[ H2D C64@8?:K65 3J r2CA6?E6C[ #:492C5 2?5 r@?H2J $49@@= q@2C5 r92:C>2? y@6 {6?E:?: @? E96 DF>>:E @7 rC2?>@C6] $F?52J[ D96 7=6H @FE E@ D6CG6 @FC ?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 t28=6D H6C6 46=63C2E65 2== H66<6?5] %96 24E:G:E:6D <:4<65 @77 $2EFC52J >@C?:?8 H:E9 2 76DE:G2= @7 82>6D :? v2CJ |:==6? $E25:F> E92E :?4=F565 2? :?7=2E23=6 @3DE24=6 4@FCD6[ 3F?866 C24:?8[ :?7=2E23=6 $F>@ HC6DE=:?8[ :?7=2E23=6 ;@FDE:?8[ 2 9@@A D9@@E 2?5 2 5F?< E2?<] k^Am
kAm{@42= 7@@5 ECF4<D r966D6 {@F:D6 2?5 %:? r2? r@] H6C6 @? 92?5 E@ D6CG6 =F?49[ H9:=6 %C2:=D t?5 x46 rC62> 7@==@H65 H:E9 56DD6CE]k^Am
kAmpE ` A]>][ 6G6CJ@?6 962565 F?56C 2 8:2?E E6?E H96C6 r2CA6?E6C 6>4665 2H2C5D] %96 t28=6D H6C6 9:89=:89E65 :? 2 E6CC:7:4 G:56@ >256 3J D6?:@C r2J=6:89 |@9=2[ @?6 @7 EH@ ~FEDE2?5:?8 r2C66C %649 $EF56?ED @7 E96 *62C WH:E9 vC246 #F55JX[ H9:49 925 :ED D92C6 @7 7F??J >@>6?ED]k^Am
kAm$EF56?E q@5J !C6D:56?E t==2 r92?5=6C 56=:G6C65 E96 H6=4@>:?8 255C6DD]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 32?BF6E 92D 366? 2? @G6C7=@H @7 D49@@= DA:C:E 6I4:E6>6?Ej 6I4:E6>6?E E92E 92D 366? >:DD:?8 D:?46 H6 4@F=5?VE 2EE6?5 DA@CED 82>6D[ 8@ E@ 52?46D @C 4966C @? @FC 4=2DD 2E A6A C2==:6D[” D96 D2:5] “rCF:D:?8 E9C@F89 E@H? :? E96 42C A2C256 H9:=6 H2:G:?8 2E =@42=D H9@’G6 DFAA@CE65 @FC ;@FC?6J H:== 766= =:<6 2 >@G:6 2D DJ?49C@?:K65 >FD:4 H27ED 7C@> 6G6CJH96C6 2C@F?5 FD] %96? H6 H:== EC2G6= E@ E96 E@A @7 2 D<: >@F?E2:? H:E9 @FC =@G65 @?6D 7@C @FC 8C25F2E:@? 46C6>@?J E92E 92D 366? C64@8?:K65 @? E96 ?2E:@?2= =6G6=] uC@> =2F89:?8 H:E9 @FC 4=2DD>2E6D[ H2G:?8 2E E96 A6@A=6 @7 E96 G2==6J @C 2D46?5:?8 rC2?>@C6 H:E9 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D[ 2== E96D6 6G6?ED H:== 7:?2==J >66E @FC 4C2G:?8 7@C E96 :?\A6CD@? 9F>2? :?E6C24E:@? H6VG6 2== 366? :? D9@CE286 @7]”k^Am
kAmr92?5=6C FC865 96C 4=2DD>2E6D E@ 496C:D9 E96 >@>6?E 2?5 ?@E H@CCJ 23@FE E2<:?8 A9@E@D H:E9 E96:C A9@?6D]k^Am
kAm“p= E96D6 6G6?ED H:== 2=D@ 92G6 AC@76DD:@?2= A9@E@8C2A96CD E@ 42AEFC6 E96D6 >@>6?ED D@ E92E E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 >@>6?E ;FDE 92G6 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE =:G:?8 :E] }@E A2DD:G6=J =:G:?8[ 3FE =:G:?8 H:E9 DF49 6IF36C2?46 2?5 A2DD:@? 7@C =:76 E92E J@F 42? =@@< 324< 2?5 <?@H J@F >256 E96 >@DE @7 :E] p?5 x 36=:6G6 E96 36DE H2J E@ 5@ E9:D :D E@ 86E @77 J@FC A9@?6 2D >F49 2D A@DD:3=6]”k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 4=2DD>2E6D E@@< t==2’D >6DD286 E@ 962CE[” #:492C5 D2:5] “x C62==J 5:5?’E ?@E:46 2 =@E @7 <:5D H:E9 A9@?6Dj :E H2D <:?5 @7 C67C6D9:?8]”k^Am
kAm$2=FE2E@C:2? pG2 y2C6== D92C65 96C A6CDA64E:G6 @? 72:=FC6]k^Am
kAmQpD x 4=@D6 E9:D 492AE6C :? >J =:76[ x 42? ?@H C64@8?:K6 E92E E96C6 :D 2? 2CE E@ 72:=FC6[ 2 362FEJ 2=>@DE[Q D96 D2:5] p?5 E92E 362FEJ 4@>6D 7C@> @FC 23:=:EJ E@ 4@?D:DE6?E=J 3@F?46 324<[ 56DA:E6 E96 >2?J E9:?8D E92E 92G6 366? E9C@H? 2E FD — 2 A2?56>:4[ G:CEF2= 4=2DD6D[ D6?:@C:E:D] uC@> @FC 8C62E6DE D6E324<D[ 4@>6D 2 8C62E6C 42A24:EJ E@ ECJ] q642FD6 7C@> E9@D6 72:=FC6D[ H6 3F:=5 DEC6?8E9]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D C6D:=:6?46 E92E H6 92G6 :?D:56 FD[ :EVD ?@E :??2E6 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E2<6? 7@C 8C2?E65] xE :D 24BF:C65 E9C@F89 2== @FC A2DE 6IA6C:6?46D E92E 92G6 =65 FD E@ E9:D A@:?E] (92E H6 92G6 249:6G65 :D 2>2K:?8] p?5 ?@H :EVD E:>6 E@ 8@ @FC D6A2C2E6 H2JD] (96E96C J@F A=2? @? 8@:?8 E@ 4@==686[ 86EE:?8 2 ;@3 @C ;@:?:?8 E96 >:=:E2CJ[ H6 H:== 2== 7246 72:=FC6] $@ x FC86 J@F E@ E9:?< 23@FE H92E J@F H@F=5 D2J E@ J@FC A2DE D6=7 5FC:?8 2 E:>6 H96? J@F 76=E 5@H? 2?5 C6>6>36C E9@D6 H@C5D]”k^Am
kAmz2E9CJ? w2H<6D[ 4=2DD G2=65:4E@C:2?[ DA@<6 23@FE 9@H D96 D2H D49@@= E9C@F89 2 AC:D> @7 “E@\5@” =:DED]k^Am
kAm“x :>A2CE E@ J@F E96 r=2DD @7 a_a` H:E9 E9:D A:646 @7 25G:46 E92E x H:D9 x 925 7@FC J62CD 28@] uF==J FE:=:K6 E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 8:G6? E@ J@F 2?5 5@?VE 92G6 2?J C68C6ED @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 677@CE AFE 7@CE9 27E6C 4@>A=6E:?8 2? 2DD:8?>6?E[ 4=2DD[ H@C<@FE[ AC24E:46[ AC@3=6>[ 565:42E:?8 J@FCD6=7 E@ DEC6?8E96?:?8 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A @C H92E6G6C :E >2J 36] %96 766=:?8 @7 244@>A=:D9>6?E :D >F49 8C62E6C H96? H92E6G6C H2D 244@>A=:D965 H2D D:?46C6=J 4@>A=6E65 H:E9 `__ A6C46?E 677@CE 2?5 2EE6?E:@? C2E96C E92? 2E EH@ E:>6D DA665 @C 3J 4@F?E:?8 5@H? E96 >:?FE6D F?E:= E96 E2D< H2D @G6C D@ J@F 42? 4C@DD E92E :E6> @77 J@FC =:DE]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “{:76 :D ?@E >62?E E@ 4@?7@C> E@ 2 E@\5@ =:DE[ 3FE :EVD >62?E E@ 36 =:G65] xEVD 7@C E96 ;@FC?6J[ E96 4=:>3[ E96 EC6>6?5@FD 2>@F?E @7 677@CE E92E J@F AFE :?E@ H92E6G6C J@F >2J 5@] … {:76 :D >62?E E@ 36 A2DD:@?2E6[ 2?5 G@:5 @7 C68C6ED] pD >2?J 92G6 D2:5[ J@F H:== =62C? 2?5 252AE 7C@> J@FC >:DE2<6D] $@ >2<6 E96>[ 5@?VE 5H6== @? E96>] #6>6>36C E96 5F>3 E:>6D 2?5 E96 7F??J E:>6D 2?5 E96 H9@=6D@>6 E:>6D] #6>6>36C E96 25G6?EFC6 2?5 E96 H:D5@> 82:?65 2=@?8 E96 H2J] #6>6>36C E96 E62496CD[ 7C:6?5D[ D:3=:?8D 2?5 A2C6?ED H9@ >256 2? :>A24E @? J@F] … s@?VE 4@F?E 5@H? E96 >:?FE6D] |2<6 E96 >:?FE6D 4@F?E]”k^Am
kAmr6=:2 {J??[ D6?:@C 4=2DD AC6D:56?E[ 56=:G6C65 E96 4=@D:?8 255C6DD]k^Am
kAm“w:89 D49@@= 7=:6D 3J[ 2?5 xV> 8C2E67F= E@ D2J :E H:== 2=H2JD 36 2 A@D:E:G6 6IA6C:6?46 @7 >:?6[ 2D x 9@A6 :E :D 2== @7 J@FCD]”k^Am
kAm%96 z6??6EE z2C2G2? 7@==@H65 2D D6?:@CD =@2565 :?E@ 564@C2E65 G69:4=6D @? t28=6D (2J 2?5 H6C6 =65 3J 2 A@=:46 6D4@CE 2=@?8 H:E9 2 D=6H @7 7:C6 6?8:?6D 7C@> 24C@DD r@?H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 42C2G2? EC2G6=65 ?@CE9 @? E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25 2?5 E96? 4FE 24C@DD E@ #@FE6 `e 2E z62CD2C86 $EC66E] xE H6?E 2C@F?5 $49@F=6C !2C<[ E96? AC@4665 D@FE9 2=@?8 #@FE6 `e E@ E96 DE@A=:89E 3J {]{] q62?[ H96C6 E96 A2C256 5:DA6CD65] wF?5C65D @7 A6@A=6 =:?65 E96 C@FE6[ >2?J 9@=5:?8 D:8?D E@ 4966C @? E96 9@>6E@H? 7=@4<]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE 52J[ 2 A:4EFC6\A6C764E $F?52J[ E96 t28=6D C646:G65 E96:C 5:A=@>2D 27E6C C:5:?8 E96 492:C=:7E FA rC2?>@C6] ~?46 DEF56?ED C624965 E96 DF>>:E[ E96J DE@AA65 2E E96 62DE 3@H=[ H6C6 2??@F?465 3J r2CA6?E6C[ AC6D6?E65 H:E9 E96:C 5:A=@>2D[ 925 2 A9@E@8C2A9 E2<6? 2?5 H6C6 24<?@H=65865 3J #:492C5 2?5 {6?E:?:[ E96? AC@466565 E@ E96 |6:DE6C wFE[ H96C6 2?@E96C A9@E@ H2D E2<6? @? E96 =6586D] %96? E96 DEF56?E 2?5 E96:C 8F6DED 962565 324< 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?]k^Am
kAm“xE C62==J H2D 2 DE@CJ3@@< H66<6?5[” r2CA6?E6C D2:5] “%9:D 4=2DD 56D6CG65 ?@ =6DD]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.