BY STACI WILSON

“Things have gotten out of hand and honesty has gotten pretty cheap. It’s just a word. It shouldn’t be,” said science teacher Edward Price to the Blue Ridge Class of 2013 graduates.

In keeping with school tradition, the graduating class chose a teacher to deliver the commencement address. This year’s Raider class chose Price.

Price spoke directly to his now former students. “I’m not one for formal speeches so I didn’t write anything down,” he said.

But he said he did do a bit a research, and most graduation speech advice listed several popular subjects to speak on. Honesty was one of those suggestions, and it was the one that hit home with Price.
“Truthfully, I think you all know how much value I put on honesty,” he said.

“This is what I want you to do,” Price charged, “bring back the honesty in honesty and the integrity in integrity through your actions and deeds. Maybe it will go viral. And I know you can do it. How do I know? Because I know you. I know you have it in you to do that.”

Valedictorian Allison Coller passed along inspiration from the late comedian George Burns. “It is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate,” she quoted.
“I plan to have plenty of failures,” she said.

Coller also acknowledged that this would be the last day many of those on the stage would see each other.

She said, “Remember, while you may be miles away from home, you are one step closer to achieving your dreams.”

Salutatorian Madison Button focused her attention on “being a decent person.”

“It’s not a very good goal,” Button said. “We remember greatness No one is looking for the average employee or average husband or wife.”

“Go out of your way to be extraordinary,” Button told her classmates and closed her remarks with a prayer.

Both Coller and Button referred to their fellow graduates as the “Legendary Class of 2013,” a sentiment echoed in remarks from Principal Matthew Nebzydoski.