By Wesley Wright
Lakeland Orchestra Booster Club President
At the recent LPS 8th grade promotion ceremony, 215 students were promoted to the 9th grade. At the event the Lakeland Prep Orchestra set the tone for the evening by serenading attendees in the foyer before the ceremony. The LPS choir, under the direction of Mr. Hansen, performed for an audience of over 1,500 parents, extended family, and friends. Student Council President Sydney Latham, along with the salutatorian and valedictorian, delivered eloquent speeches reflecting on the unique experiences of their class before, during, and after COVID-19. They highlighted how these experiences shaped them, strengthened their resilience, and forged a unique bond among them.
Ted Horrell, the LSS superintendent, praised the speeches and commended the school’s multidisciplinary opportunities in athletics and the arts, which are rarely seen in middle and high schools. He also highlighted the impressive achievements of LPS’s 9th and 10th graders, noting that many students had already completed AP courses and achieved ACT scores above 21, exceeding the norm for their grade levels. The eighth graders transitioning into high school will join a cohort with a proven track record. The evening was both classy and efficient, lasting just an hour.
