Cause to celebrate

The Mill Creek High School Seniors vote every year on whether to have the event at the school or at the Gwinnett Civic Center and every year loyalty to the school venue increases.
This year, with thunderstorms looming all over the radar, against all odds, the rained stopped and a pleasant breeze began right when the ceremony began. Valedictorian Yee Gee Nam had Gwinnett School Board Chairman Daniel Seckinger(pictured seated), Principal Jim Markham, MCHS Classmates and the packed stadium spellbound as she thanked her Mother for sending her from South Korea so she could be be educated in the United States. Happily her Mother was able to make the trip to watch her daughter’s achievement
In another local stadium on another beautiful Georgia night, the infectious grin of Daniel Huff appeared as he prepared to accept his diploma as a 2009 Central Gwinnett High School graduate.
When the Prom King and Queen are good friends, their post win photo op is even better than usual. At Dacula High School, Prom King TJ Davilmar and Queen Jasmine Davis personified their charm and humility with a long practiced “I can’t believe I won face”. The King was on Dacula Track and Field Team and is headed to Kennesaw State University while the Queen, Student Council member and Step Team athlete, will be matriculating at Savannah State University.
At about-to-open Mountain View High School, the quest for the perfect bear mascot never ends. Surrounding the Bear are Dolford Layson (community school director), Keith Chaney (principal, MVHS), Coley Krug (community school director), Paul Waters (asst. principal), and kneeling is Jimmy Chupp (asst. principal) and sitting is Lou Bryant (asst. principal).When photographers Taryn Barnett and Meghan Schroder asked the Bear to turn a little to the left, the Bear was non compliant.
This is in stark contrast to the new family members of my daughter and photographer Meghan Schroder who not only welcomed baby Skylar to her family but added Olde English Sheepdog puppies Tucker and Miss Ellie. 3 months after their arrival, neither Baby Skylar nor Puppies choose to sleep through the night much.
Dennis Crilley a 1997 graduate of Brookwood High School has had many accomplishments in the past few years but those of us who patronized Publix Grocery in the 90’s remember him for his charm, good looks and bagging “paper or plastic” skills. Dennis, now in the insurance field, and his fiancée, Tiffany King, attended Berry College at the same time. Despite the small class size, (around 400 students per graduating class) and the fact they had several close friends in common, they never met until they both returned to Atlanta. They are getting married this summer at Norcross’s Flint Hill Plantation.
Another family that I have watched through the years is the Paynes of Grayson, shown with Mother Peggy. Casey, now age 18, is newly graduated from Grayson HS where she was a varsity softball athlete, and will attend Kennesaw State in fall. Callie , age 14, who will be attending Grayson HS in the fall as a 9th grader and made the state ranked Golden Rams Competition cheerleading team, while son Cody , age 12 will be in the 7th grade next year at Couch Middle School. He plays football and baseball at Baycreek Park. As for Peggy, she has the best Southern accent in Gwinnett County for someone who grew up in New Jersey (and I should know because I’m in that competition).


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