GALLIPOLIS — The Class of 2010 made their mark on Friday as the first graduates to walk the stage in the new Gallia Academy High School gymnasium.

“Senior class, unequivocally, you are the best that has ever graduated from this building,” Gallipolis City Schools Superintendent Jack Payton said to resounding applause and laughter from both the audience and the students.

Speaking on behalf of their fellow honor students, Allie Troester and John Troester took a moment to reflect on the past year in a new school and to remember fellow classmate Joshua Fairchild, who passed away this year.

“We have faced many different challenges this year,” said Allie Troester. “We lost a dear friend and classmate. We left a school that we had been in for three years in high school and had to call a school we had never been in before our school.”

Allie Troester told her fellow students, through making their own traditions, the Class of 2010 has made their mark on the school and wished her classmates good luck in their futures.

“As we leave we must remember the good times,” said John Troester, who went on to detail some of the events shared with his classmates. “As we remember the good, we must also remember the bad. This year we have lost a dear friend and classmate in Josh Fairchild. But as we remember our loss, we must also remember that life goes on and we must strive for what makes us happy. That’s what I think Josh would want for all of us.”

John Troester urged his fellow classmates to fight for what makes them happy.

The evening started out with vocal selection performed by the GAHS Madrigals, the singing of America the Beautiful and the presentation of awards by GAHS Principal Bruce Wilson.

Students entering the United States Military received a standing ovation from the graduates and crowd.

The are: Jesse Casey (U.S. Army); James Davison (U.S. National Guard); Ashley Fisher (U.S. Navy), Marissa Greene (U.S. Navy); Shawn Pethel (U.S. Marines); Dylan Smith (U.S. Marines).

The top 10 percent of the Class of 2010 are: Mollie Elizabeth Blake, Olivia Nicole Boone, Charles Joseph Calvert, Stacie Renee Cummons, Katelyn Brook Holley, Kara Renee’ Jackson, Megan Holly Lawhon, Heather Renee Mahan, Amy Jane Noe, Jered Paul Shaffer, Hubbell Jorgenson Smith, Ashley Brooke Spencer, Alexandra Lee Troester, John F. Troester and Jeremy Todd Ward.

Students who were awarded academic keys were: Allie Troester and John Troester, Outstanding Seniors in Academics; Allie Troester, Outstanding Senior in Science; Hubbell Smith, Outstanding Senior in Mathematics; Ashley Spencer, Outstanding Senior in English; John Troester, Outstanding Senior in Social Studies; Jared Myers and Jeremy Ward, Outstanding Seniors in Music; Nate Allison and John Troester, Outstanding Male Seniors in Athletics; Amy Noe, Outstanding Female Senior in Athletics.

Scholarships and awards have been presented to:

Nathaniel Allison — Lynn Angell 4-H Scholarship ($500).

Carly Atkins — Marshall University A. Michael Perry Scholarship ($2,000 for a total of four years); River Recreation Queen 2nd Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality Award sponsored by Gallipolis Junior Women’s Club ($200); Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100); GAHS Choir Boosters Outstanding Choir Member ($100).

Glenna Baker — Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100).

Kyle Bays — Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100); Gallia County Local Education Association Scholarship ($500); Gallipolis Lions Club Scholarship ($500).

Mollie Blake — Marshall University A. Michael Perry Scholarship ($8,000); Knights of Columbus Scholarship ($1,000); Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100); Women of the Moose Scholarship ($25).

Chuck Calvert — Ohio University Gateway Scholarship ($750); Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100).

Molly Carroll — O.A.P.S.E./AFSCME Memorial Scholarship ($1,500).

Brea Close — University of Rio Grande Athletic Scholarship ($24,000 total for four years).

Jordan Cornwell — Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100).

Stacie Cummons — Ohio Elks Association Scholarship ($1,000); 4-H Advisors’ Scholarship ($500); Josh Fairchild Memorial Scholarship ($500).

Kyle Dingess — Northern Kentucky University Athletic Scholarship ($500).

Ashley Fisher — Gavin Local 296 Scholarship ($300).

Nathaniel Gordon — Gallia County Emancipation Scholarship ($350).

Jared Gravely — Josh Fairchild Memorial Scholarship ($500); Infocision Golden Helmet Award ($1,000); Urbana University Athletic Scholarship ($54,000 for a total of four years).

Dylan Hunter — University of Cincinnati Cincinnatus Award ($8,000 for a total of four years).

Kara Jackson — Ohio University Intercollegiate Athletics Scholarship plus books ($55,200 for a total of four years); Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100); Gallia County Emancipation Scholarship ($350).

Randy Jackson — Riverbend Animal Clinic 4-H Scholarship ($500); Pipefitters’ Local 577 ($2,000 for a total of four years); Marshall University Board of Governors’ Scholarship ($16,000 for a total of four years); GAHS Choir Boosters Outstanding Choir Member ($100).

Amanda Jarvis — Ohio Trampoline and Tumbling Scholarship ($200).

Shaquellia Lewis — Gallia County Emancipation Scholarship ($350).

Rachael Lyles — Marietta College Dean’s Scholarship ($48,000 for four years).

Ricardo Maldonado — Ohio University King-Chavez-Parks Scholarship ($9,000).

Lindsey Mink — GAHS Choir Boosters Outstanding Choir Member ($100); Clarence and Rebecca Archer Scholarship ($750).

Nicklas Mitchell — Ohio University Gateway Scholarship ($750).

Tiata Moore — Kentucky Christian University Partnership Award ($3,000).

Amy Noe — The Ohio State University Buckeye Bound Scholarship ($16,000 for a total of four years).

Janelle Parsons — Ohio Valley Bank 4-H Scholarship ($3,000 for a total of four years).

Kyle Rhodes — Wheeling Jesuit University Awards ($48,000 for a total of four years).

Kody Roberts — Wiseman-Roach 4-H Scholarship ($500).

Kaytlyn Ross — Gallia County Vietnam Veterans’ Scholarship ($500); M&G Polymers Scholarship ($1,000); Marshall University A. Michael Perry Scholarship ($8,000 for a total of four years).

Alli Saunders — Shelly Company Scholarship ($500); Gallia County Katherine Williams Retired Teachers’ Scholarship ($350).

Jered Shaffer — Gallia County Agriculture Center Scholarship ($2,000 for a total of four years); The Ohio State University Trustees’ Scholarship ($4,200 for a total of four years); The Ohio State University Buckeye Bound Scholarship ($16,000 for a total of four years).

Hubbell Smith — Miami University Ohio Merit Scholarship ($26,000 for a total of four years); Josh Fairchild Memorial Scholarship ($500).

Ashley Spencer — Gavin Local 296 Scholarship ($300).

Alyssa Stanley — Imagine America Scholarship ($1,000).

Maddie Swisher — Shawnee State University Professor’s Scholarship ($2,000).

Alexandra Troester — The Ohio State University Provost & Excellence Scholarships ($45,996 for a total of four years); Brad Abels Scholarship ($1,000); Holzer Science Award ($300); Hubert Harder Memorial Scholarship ($2,500); The Ohio State Buckeye Bound Scholarship ($16,000 for a total of four years).

John Troester — The Ohio State University Provost & Excellence Scholarships ($45,996 for a total of four years); Maude Sellards Scholarship ($400); Brad Abels Scholarship ($1,000); The Ohio State University Buckeye Bound Scholarship ($16,000 for a total of four years).

Carli Wallenfelsz — Elks Scholarship ($1,000); Gallia County Agricultural Society Scholarship ($2,000 for a total of four years)

Jeremy Ward — O.A.P.S.E. Local 349 Scholarship ($350); Shenandoah University Academic Award Scholarship ($40,000 for a total of four years); Varsity “G” Scholarship ($100).

The Gallia Academy High School Class of 2010 is:

Nathaniel Mark Allison, Seth Tyler Amos, Zachariah Sean Armstrong, Ryan Adam Arthurs, Carly Ruth Atkins, Genna Nicole Baker, James Dalton Banks, Larry D. Barcus, Jr., Cynthia Ruth Barry, Jenna Anne Bates, Kyle D. Bays, Andrew John Blackburn, Mollie Elizabeth Blake, Olivia Nicole Boone, Brooke Leanne Bowie, Kenny E. Bradshaw, Monica J. Broyles, Mark Trevor Bryan, Jessica Rae Bush, Joshua Eric Buttrick, Charles Joseph Calvert, Courtney May Campbell, Molly Irene Carroll, Jesse R. Casey, Ashley Jensen Clagg, Brea Janae’ Close, Jordan Robert Cornwell, Ashley L. Coughenour, Jessica Cowles, Edward J. M. Craddock, Stacie Renee Cummons, Ryan Eugene Brown Curtis, Ashlee Aryn Danner, Brooke Olivia Davies, James Matthew Davison, Kyle McLain Dingess, Aaron Seth Duty, Corey Andrew Eberhard, Joshua Anthony Fairchild (In Memory), Shayna Nicole Feustel, Ashley Suzanne Fisher, Brandon Lee Francisco, Ronald James Garber, Christina Michelle Gibbs, Joshua L. Gillies, Nathaniel Alexander Gordon, Jared Riley Gravely, Marissa Myra Greene, Cody Harrison Greer, Corey Austin Hamilton, Eric L. Harrison, Angie Marie Harvey, Wesley Juan Henry, Charles Nathan Holley, Katelyn Brook Holley, McKenzie Clair Hood, Steven Josh Hunt, Dylan M. Hunter, Joshua Allen Jackson, Kara Rene’ Jackson, Randy Dean Jackson, Travis A. Janey, Amanda Jane Jarvis, David Michael Johnson, Heather Dawn Kasee, Alyssa Renee Kessel, Justin Bryant Kiser, Lacy J. Lauder, Megan Holly Lawhon, Cody Bryan Lewis, Shaquellia Danae’ Lewis, Xavier Bradley Lewis, Rachael Anne Lyles, Heather Renee Mahan, Ezechiel G. Maher, Ricardo L. Madonado, Cassandra K. McCoy, Autumn D. McDaniel, Christopher William McDermitt, Michael McDonald, Amanda Nicole McFann, Jason Michael McNickle, Ralph A. McPherson, Tashika Janelle McWhorter, Pearce Ian Michal, Adrian Paige Miller, Jason Mills, Lindsey N. Mink, David Mitchell, Nicklas Timothy Mitchell, Todd Wesley Montgomery, Tiata Marie Moore, Jeffrey A. Moss, Jared Colby Myers, Jared Gregory Nelson, Amy Jane Noe, Anthony Ray O’Dell, Destann Janee’ O’Neal, Janelle Nicole Parsons, Tiffany Lynn Pasquale, Kaleb L. Patten, Brittany Renee Patterson, Shawn M. Pethtel, Burgandi La’ Rae Plymale, Steven L. Pryor, Dillan Queen, Jassae N. Rapacilo, Kyle Thomas Rhodes, Courtney Danielle Roach, Nicholas A. Roach, W. Kody Roberts, James William Robinson, Katlyn Mae Ross, Jessica Kay Roush, Jared Lee Saum, Alli Nicole Saunders, Christopher Shawn Michael Sexton, Jered Paul Shaffer, Jessica Leann Shelton, Jordan Elizabeth Simpson, Dylan Tyler Smith, Hubbell Jorgensen Smith, Terry Allen Smith, Ashley Brooke Spencer, Rj Christopher Springer, Tessa Paige Springer, Alyssa Joy Stanley, Brittni Lee Steele, Madison Marie Steele, Naoma D. Stiltner, David L. Stout, Madeline T. Swisher, Angelique Maria Thomas, Olivia Kathleen Thomas, Alexandra Lee Troester, John F. Troester, Bradley J. Vallee, Steven Donovan Vironet, Andre’ J. Walker, Christopher Nathan Wallace, Carli R. Wallenfelsz, Jeremy Todd Ward, Brandon Keith Welch, Anna Michelle White, Emily Magdalen White, Chelsea Grace Wickline, Whitney W. M. Williams, Megan LaShea Worley, Kristyn Nicole Wright, Preston Scott Wroblewski, Erica Rae Young.