May 23, 20222 min read

South Stokes High School "Graduating Class of 2022"

Updated: Oct 6, 2022

Ann Jones is the Youth Services Chair of the Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers and is shown to the right at the podium of South Stokes High School addressing a crowd of about 300 people. She does such a wonderful job representing Rotary and Global Trekkers.

Ann's speech:

To all of you, your parents, your teachers, and the organizers of this awards event it is an honor to participate in your awards program today.

In June of 1972 I was where you are….an excited high school graduate. Like you probably, I was excited and a little nervous about what the future would hold. I am especially honored to be back to where life after high school began many years later. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend most of my working career here in Stokes County, which also led to me becoming a member of our Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers.

I am Ann Jones, the Youth Services Coordinator for the Global Trekkers. Ray Pifer, our club Past President and Treasurer is also with us this morning. Our entire club is excited and waiting from around the world for us to post pictures of your special event. Our Rotary Club was developed to carry on the work of the former Walnut Cove Rotary Club. We owe much gratitude and thanks to Ray Pifer for initiating the development of our club to continue the work of Walnut Cove Rotary. Even before the pandemic made Zoom the necessary meeting place for many of us, our Club began meeting via Zoom when we were formed about six (6) years ago. We invite you to join us for a meeting and will be happy to provide you with a link so that you can learn more about all that we do.

As our guiding principle, we share the Four Way Test each week. Of the things we think, say or do, the Four Way Test is a test used by Rotarians world-wide as a moral code for personal and business relationships. Each year Rotary sponsors a Four Way Test Speech Contest for which high school juniors and seniors are eligible to participate.

Each year we ask the scholarship committee here at South Stokes to select a graduating senior considered to be the Most Improved Graduating Senior and who will be the recipient of a $500 scholarship to the college of their choice from the Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers.

For 2022, this scholarship is being awarded to Devin Spargo!