North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue will speak during the June 5 Ashe County High School graduation ceremony.

Ashe County High School Principal Phil Howell said that Gov. Perdue is honoring a prior commitment that she made last spring to speak at the ceremony recognizing the seniors from the class of 2009. He said ACHS is honored to have Perdue take the time to provide a “brief inspirational speech.”

“It’s a tough time for her, so we are especially honored that she will take the time to come to Ashe County,” Howell said. The governor in the early months of her first term is wrangling with some of the biggest economic issues the office has faced in seven decades since the Great Depression.

He went on to explain that Perdue will give a short “inspirational speech to honor the seniors as they enter the full-blown world of adulthood and go on to bigger and better things.”

Leading up to the graduation night, ACHS will host its annual Senior Awards Day in the school’s auditorium at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 29. Howell explained that the ceremony is an opportunity for the school’s staff as well as anyone connected with the school to salute this year’s seniors and recognize those students’ achievements. Recognition will be given to seniors for college scholarships, honor graduates, along with any other achievements the students have accumulated during their high school years.

“The awards day ceremony is a lot of payoff so to speak for all of their hard work,” Howell explained.

Perfect Attendance and N.C. Scholars recipients will be honored during the ceremony as well. A list of prospective award recipients will be posted in the high school’s guidance office during this week. Students should check these lists and communicate with his or her counselor as soon as possible with any questions or clarifications. Parents and students are encouraged to inform counselors of all scholarships that have been awarded so these achievements can be celebrated.

Local businesses that have sponsored scholarships will also be on hand to present the award. This year’s list of awarded scholarships may be on the lighter side compared to past years as Howell explained that due to this year’s economy, some community based organizations have informed ACHS that they will not be able to fulfill their original commitment to funding scholarships.

The tenth graduating class of ACHS is described by Howell as one that is “academically strong” and how the school’s staff is “looking to hear great things from them” in the near future.

“I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch these students grow from freshmen on up till today,” Howell said. “I have the utmost respect for this group of young people and it has become an honor to have served them.”

For more information on this year’s graduation ceremony or the awards day ceremony, please contact ACHS at (336) 846-2400