Franklin County Chamber Honors Graduates

Franklin County Honor Graduates gathered Friday morning for a special Honors Breakfast at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College.

The annual Honors Breakfast is sponsored every year by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Included in the number of Honor Seniors were this year’s STAR student Levi Thomas and the teacher he selected as his STAR Teacher, Kenny Floyd.

Floyd said it was a great honor to be chosen as the STAR Teacher by Thomas.

Floyd commended Thomas for his hard work during his high school career toward his goal of becoming an engineer.

“I think it’s a great honor to be recognized as a STAR teacher,” he said. “Most recognitions are decided on by your administration or peers, which is also greatly appreciated but it just means more when it comes from students you’ve taught over the years. I’ve known Levi for seven years. And not only has he impacted his peers but myself as well.”

The keynote speaker was Pioneer RESA Executive Director Justin Old who worked in the Franklin County School system, first as the Assistant Principal of Royston Elementary School.

In 2005, he became Director of Transportation for the Franklin County School System and then was promoted to Director of Operations in 2006.

Old also served as Interim Superintendent of Franklin County Schools for three months in 2006 before moving to his current position as Pioneer RESA Executive Director.

In his address to students, Old showed a video of the 2022 Kentucky Derby in which Rich Strike came from last place to win.

Old said like Rich Strike, graduates need to persevere to realize their goals and dreams and to decide who will be on their team as they go through life.

“But what you got to do is decide who’s going to be on your team. The great thing about being in Franklin County is when you need somebody, you have somebody to talk to,” he said. “There’s not a stronger community than what you have in Franklin County. All these people are here to support you. They want to see you succeed and they’re here for you,” Old said. ”

Old told the students things are going to get hard and it’s a real world out there.

“I’m not here to tell you you cannot do it. I’m here to prepare you for what’s coming. And the great thing about it is you have an opportunity to be great,” he said.

Old said it’s up to each graduate to decide whether they will be great or not.

In all, 43 Franklin County High School Seniors made the Honor Roll this year.