By Tom Markland
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg High School’s 329 seniors walked across the stage and accepted their diplomas in a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, celebrating the end of high school and taking their first steps toward the future.
According to Principal Trent Sherman, resiliency defined the class, with the COVID-19 pandemic marring their early years of high school.
“I think, overall, that’s one of the biggest lessons we teach here, is just resilience, and you have to keep pushing forward and doing your best, because that’s what life’s about,” Sherman said.
Senior Class President Ruby Amores echoed Sherman’s sentiment in her speech later, referencing the pandemic, along with other roadblocks, like 90-minute class periods, SATs and a malware attack that brought down Berkeley County Schools’ internet for some time.
“Adversity could not stop the bullet train of our class,” Amores said.
Sherman said his favorite part of each class, including the Class of 2024, is its diversity, watching students branch out into different careers and bloom into successful adults.
“I like the diversity of this school in itself, and I just like seeing the different kids and the different routes that they take to success,” Sherman said. “I mean, we have kids that go to Harvard, go to the military. We have kids in the NFL, (and) we’ve got kids that are famous singers. It’s just great to see the different paths they take and are successful in.”
Of the 329 graduates, 104 of them are going to college and have earned over an estimated $2.4 million in scholarship money. Another four of them have enlisted in the military.
Martinsburg’s Class of 2024 has celebrated many accomplishments over the years, including more than half of them graduating with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The group’s ACE (Academic Competition for Excellence) team has also been a runner-up in 2021, 2022 and this year.
Many of the school’s athletic teams have seen success with the class, as well, including the football team, which won a state championship in December, and the girls basketball team, which won the sectional championship this past season.
When it comes to the arts, Martinsburg’s wide variety of bands and organizations, including the Velocity Dance Team, have brought home many awards.
Alexis Maye, who teaches dance and leads Velocity, described the Class of 2024 as competitive and ambitious, while staying close-knit and caring.
“The girls that I’ve had the opportunity to experience dance with are literally like family,” Maye said.
Alongside the Velocity Dance Team, the Bulldog Band, Glitz Show Choir and theater program won awards across the state and beyond.
For its senior class gift, the Class of 2024 donated more than $600 to the school’s special needs department.
“This donation is an investment into the brighter future for all students,” said Xerxees Yancey, senior class treasurer. “I hope that for us, the Class of 2024, we embrace generosity and empathy as guiding principles in our actions and continue making a positive impact on those around us.”