Parents, siblings, friends and the community packed into the Harry M. Ward Auditorium on Saturday morning to celebrate 54 young men and women as they received their diplomas during the 84th commencement of Mathews High School.
Like the graduating classes of the last three years, the MHS Class of 2023 faced the added challenge of staying on track academically in the midst of a pandemic. Valedictorian Ethan Hudgins suggested that the Covid challenge may have made the students who came through it stronger as a result.
“Our high school experience started off pretty far from a normal one, but by the end it made its way back to how it should have been,” he said. “We were able to completely change our methods of schooling in just a few short months and then switch back to normal just as fast.
“If we can keep that ability with us, then everyone will be able to handle whatever life throws at you and be successful with it,” he continued. “Another thing we learned was the importance of finding so...