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Description
The Class of 2023 was the first-ever graduating class for Lucy Beckham High School. That means Peyton Matheson is the school's first-ever valedictorian. In this Stories of CCSD feature, learn about his approach to learning, what keeps him well-balanced, and his message for the first-ever graduating class in school history.
A
Hello,
everybody
I'm
Andy
Pruitt
another
school
year,
just
wrapped
up,
including
another
round
of
graduation
ceremonies
for
our
high
schools.
So
it's
time
for
our
annual
stories
of
CCSD
feature
on
a
valedictorian.
This
year
we
are
highlighting
the
first
ever
valedictorian
from
the
first
ever
graduating
class
at
Lucy
Beckham
high
school.
That
would
be
Peyton
Matheson,
however,
being
the
first
is
only
part
of
his
story.
A
A
C
Gotten
to
watch
new
classes
and
new
teachers
be
added
into
the
school
and
just
all
the
new
programs
that
we
started
the
clubs
from
the
bottom
up.
So
you
know
when
we
came
here,
there
wasn't
really
any
clubs.
Now
we've
got
pretty
pretty
vibrant
club
scene,
extracurriculars
have
kind
of
grown.
Our
Sports
programs
have
developed,
so
we've
really
gotten
to
watch
everything
grow
from
the
ground
up,
which
has
been
a
really
cool
experience.
The.
D
Class
of
2023
is
probably
the
most
resilient
group
of
students.
I
have
ever
seen
whether
it
was
in
person
or
virtual,
or
we
had
to
close
down.
Of
course,
we
were,
they
were
learning
through
plexiglass
and
masks,
and
all
of
the
the
constraints
that
really
putting
those
on
our
students
and-
and
they
continue
to
form
relationships
with
each
other
form
relationships
with
their
teachers.
I
would
say
x
and
they
were
like.
Okay,
we'll
do
that.
Let's
do
that.
They
adapted
beautifully.
A
No
question
Matheson
stood
out
academically
during
his
time
at
Lucy
Beckham
and
not
just
in
the
physical
classroom.
When
the
school
opened
during
the
covid-19
pandemic
in
the
fall
of
2020,
he
was
a
full-time
virtual
student.
He
credits
the
staff
for
supporting
him
and
his
classmates
during
that
strange
time
without.
C
Them
I
definitely
would
not
be
sitting
here
today.
I
think
that
if
they've
been
really
great
in
helping
me
learn
and
grow
not
only
as
a
student
but
as
a
person
and
I'm
I'm,
definitely
very
thankful
for
that,
and
the
administration,
as
well
just
for
working
with
me
and
working
with
all
of
us
to
help
us
achieve
our
goals
and
kind
of
navigate
through
the
the
challenges
we
Face.
A
E
C
A
C
Going
to
that
school
kind
of
opened
my
eyes
to
just
music
on
a
on
a
deeper
level
getting
to
play,
you
know
a
couple
hours
a
day
for
several
years,
so
that's
been
a
really
cool
experience.
I
was
part
of
the
Wando
jazz
band
there
and
then
I've
been
a
part
of
the
Lucy
back
home
jazz
band
as
well,
which
has
definitely
been
really
cool.
Payton.
D
A
C
A
C
B
E
Is
probably
one
of
the
best,
if
not
the
best
students
I
have
ever
taught
because
of
his
intelligence,
his
compassion,
his
gentleness
to
everyone,
his
kindness
in
his
he
in
he
includes
everyone
he's
a
friend
to
all
he
talked
to
all
the
students
in
class.
They
all
know
him.
They
all
respect
him
and
I
think
just
the
how
respectful
he
is
to
everyone.
Peyton.