By Christian Coffman

VIDALIA — Vidalia High School valedictorian Destiney Bank reminded her classmates Friday night that their days in school have prepared them for lift off.

“We have all had our burdens to bear and hills to climb,” Banks said. “Life is a journey. It does not end once we get our diplomas.”

“This is our launching pad into other successes,” Banks said.

Banks told the class of 96 graduates times ahead will exist when they will doubt their ability to succeed, but that giving up is not an option and excuses must not be made.

“As my grandma once told me, ‘No weapon against me can prosper,’ and I can attest to how right she was,” Banks said.

Graduate Allye Braley introduced the graduating class of 2017, thanking their teachers, families, friends and God for their success.

“Teachers may not have been appreciated enough,” Braley said. “I offer a big thank you to the fellow graduates of 2017. Our time would not have been as spectacular without you.”

Salutatorian Hailye Murray told the class that she was proud to stand before them and that too many words would be required to describe their experience.

“We started high school as clueless children, but we are finishing as determined young adults,” Murray said.

During the event, many of the class members were honored with awards and scholarships for their academic success. Concordia Parish School District Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein honored 16 graduates with Concordia Parish diploma awards. The awards are given by the school district to students who maintain high standards in academics. The Class of 2017 also included 26 honor graduates and seven special honor graduates.

As valedictorian, Banks said she was humbled to address such a wondrous graduation all “under the umbrella of success.”

Ending her remarks, she told her class to strive to be the best they can be so that they “can fill (their) lives and the lives of others with happiness.”