East Jackson Comprehensive High School closed out its first year just the way it started it - with strong support from the community.
School officials were pleasantly surprised at the school's first commencement ceremony May 23 to find the stadium stands nearly full on the home side. With only 109 diplomas to present, the expectations were for a much smaller crowd.
Luckily, the school pulled off the ceremony before the rain came in, because there would not have been sufficient room in the gymnasium for the crowd that turned out. It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless, and Principal Pat Stueck reports that the school will plan for that contingency in all future graduations.
Local schools in all three systems have always enjoyed strong community support. EJCHS is one of the newest schools in the county, but its first graduation ceremony demonstrated once again that Jackson County citizens love and support their schools.