SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — After a unique and challenging school year of wearing masks, social distancing and learning both in school and online, the senior Class of 2021 at Pendleton Heights High School and Lapel High School celebrated their graduations Sunday, June 6.

With COVID-19 pandemic protocol still in place, 349 students graduated from PHHS at the ceremony held on John Broughton Field. LHS graduated 103 students at a commencement service in the school’s gym.

At Pendleton Heights, Neil Brown was class valedictorian. Evelyn Garard was class salutatorian.

Both were among the commencement speakers that also included class president Jack Hudson.

The class motto was a quote from showman PT Barnum, “No one ever made a difference being like everyone else.”

The class color is green.

Lapel High School no longer designates a valedictorian and salutatorian in their graduating classes.

LHS now uses Latin honors recognizing academic achievement by summa cum laude, magnum cum laude and cum laude.

Class president Lauren Richards addressed the graduates and those in attendance along with class representative Mariah Mason, who earned Latin honors.

The Class of 2021 colors are gray, teal and white and the class flower is a carnation.

The motto of the Lapel graduating class is a quote from the fictional character Ron Swanson, from the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, “I regret nothing, the end.”

Both Pendleton Heights and Lapel recognized 50-year anniversary graduating classes of 1971. Many were in attendance at their respective commencements.