BY KARISSA MILLER
Under sunny skies and cooler than normal weather, North Iredell High School seniors experienced mixed emotions on Saturday morning as they celebrated their graduation while remembering a classmate lost to cancer.
Principal Diana Jones asked for a moment of silence to honor the life and memory of Eli Jordan, who died in 2023 and would have graduated with the Class of 2025.
“Though Eli left us way too soon, his presence is felt among his classmates, the teachers and all who knew him. Today, we honor this memory and the place he holds in our heart,” Jones said.
During the presentation of the diplomas, Jones and Assistant Principal Scott Childers released a blue balloon into the air after Jordan’s name was called.
The 239 graduates looked on as the balloon floated into the sky.
“Eli left us with shoes that cannot be filled. He was such a loving and compassionate person,” Honor Graduate Savannah Woods said in her speech.
“God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers,” Woods added, repeating a favorite quote of Jordan’s.
Woods encouraged her classmates to learn from life’s experiences — even the most challenging ones.
“Don’t run from the feeling of missing someone or the feeling that growing up is sad — because those feelings prove that you lived your high school years to the fullest,” she told her classmates.
Honor graduate Emma White spoke about her struggles with perfectionism and shared her faith with her classmates.
“Romans 3:23 reminds us we are imperfect and in need of a Savior,” she said. “Being perfect is impossible. We will face challenges and will have to face them without the comfort and protection of our school.
“The future may seem scary … but He knows all of our imperfections and all the mistakes we will make. He has a plan for each and every one of us,” she added.
Honor Speaker Kaydan Flowers spoke about the power of stepping out of your comfort zone.
“In life, we are going to have opportunities to be more than we want to or be somewhere we don’t want to be. We have to decide what we want to do about it. We can choose to stay comfortable or embrace it,” Flowers explained.
“Don’t let anything be an excuse not to take action. Good things come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle,” she said.
No one, she said, will value the graduates’ goals like they do.
“We are the only ones that choose to reach them. Choose to work hard for your relationships. Choose to step outside of your comfort zone. Choose to try again when it doesn’t go your way,” she added.
Childers, who will retire after this year, congratulated the Class of 2025 on their accomplishments and reminded them that not everything in life will be easy.
Jones introduced special guests on stage, including Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James and school board Chairman Doug Knight and I-SS Teacher of the Year Lauren Gaither.
“The Class of 2025 embodies our vision of deep roots and high expectations,” Jones said. “So far, we are at almost $6 million in scholarships and still counting.”
Jones said that 60 percent of graduates are college bound, 35 percent will go straight into the workforce and 5 percent will go into the military.
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