Class of 2022 Turns the Tassel

The Class of 2022 officially turned the tassel on May 21, 2022, at Edens Stadium on Hammond's campus. Mark Hood '76 served as this year's commencement speaker.

 

Twenty-one of the 76 members of the class are children of Hammond graduates, 30 have attended for 14 years, and eight have attended since kindergarten. They have traveled the globe, speak several languages, and count Hammond travel opportunities among their greatest experiences. 

 

They are multi-sport, accomplished athletes. Nine students will continue their careers at the collegiate level in football, baseball, equestrian, soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Among them are the first South Carolinian to win a match at the National Prep wrestling championship, the 3^rd place national champion in the Hershey Track & Field Junior Olympics, a top 20 nationally ranked baseball player, and a second-degree black belt.

 

They are philanthropists. Eagle Scouts, humanitarians, recyclers, and fundraisers. They’ve coached the Special Olympics, volunteered with therapeutic riding programs, started a fundraiser based on touchdowns, served meals to the homeless, raised money for Somalian refugees, volunteered for the Red Cross during the pandemic, and performed community service at home and in Fiji, Kenya, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and New York City.

 

They are agents of change and entrepreneurs. Among the things these students have done are played bingo with senior citizens, interned at a neurodevelopmental disorders lab, sorted humanitarian aid, certified as a rat tickler for research, shadowed at the Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment, served as an ambassador for an international organization providing cleft palate surgeries, and assisted sea turtles giving birth. These students have created clothing lines, designed themed birthday parties, started jewelry businesses, and become influencers.

 

More importantly, they are Skyhawks. Their most memorable experiences include state championship wins, class trips, nature walks with Mr. Mancke, Country of Study Days, pep rallies, football Fridays, writing letters to their 12^th grade selves in 7^th grade, and traveling to Costa Rica.

The words of one student, however, particularly resonated with us, “My school experience has been made so meaningful because of my involvement. I have always had room to explore and create and Hammond has allowed me to grow as a person in incredible ways. All of my best qualities have formed as a result of going to school here.”

 

Class of 2022, thank you for the ways, large and small, you have impacted life at Hammond. You won’t soon be forgotten … very best wishes.

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