COASTAL OBSERVER

Two years ago, Rashard Blocker couldn’t imagine graduating from high school. His freshman and sophomore years at Waccamaw High School were a struggle.

“I was on a pretty rocky boat. Hanging with the wrong crowd, not coming to school,” he said. “I knew I had to change it up.”

Blocker is only the second of five siblings to graduate. He was among 221 members of Waccamaw’s Class of 2025 who crossed the stage at Warrior Field and into a new chapter of their lives on Wednesday night. Blocker plans to enroll in Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

This year’s seniors received over $5 million in scholarship offers.

Megan Buffkin is the first in her immediate family to work toward a four-year college degree, which made her the perfect candidate and recipient of the Helping Hands scholarships, where she received a new HP laptop and over $1,000 for her studies.

“I’m glad that there’s benefits for those who are first-generation because we are considered low income,” Buffkin said.

She said her dream is to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue 2D animation.

Moreen Rogers received the Delta Sigma Theta Academic Scholarship. She will be attending the University of South Carolina to study neuroscience, following in her mom’s footsteps.

“It means I made it and all the hard work that I’ve put in has gotten me here,” Rogers said about graduating.

Mekhi Sellers will study music production at Benedict College. Sema’J Shackleford, another 2025 graduate, will attend HGTC. They both said they will miss the daily camaraderie, “trolling,” they called it in their friend group.

“It’s gonna be the real world,” Sellers said.

The graduates aren’t the only ones excited about the milestone.

Jennifer Thomas, a second-grade teacher, and Sarah Rodenbeck, who teaches third grade, have known each other for over 20 years from teaching together at Waccamaw Elementary. They waited last week for the seniors to arrive for their last walk.

The senior walk through the elementary, intermediate and middle schools is their “walk down memory lane,” as Thomas called it.

To Rodenbeck, it beats graduation.

“It’s pretty exciting to see all these kids every year,” Rodenbeck said.

”And that they’ve made it,” Thomas added.

This year is special for the two mothers of Waccamaw graduates, Jack Thomas and Ben Rodenbeck, who grew up in Waccamaw schools together.

Jack will attend HGTC, and Ben will attend USC. Both will study engineering.

Rodenbeck’s third-grade class naturally cheered the loudest for Ben as they chanted his name and held up sticks with old photos of Ben glued onto them.

“What makes today special is seeing all the seniors and Ben walk down that hall to go to college,” Deckett Vurroughs, 9, said.

“It means a lot to them,” Landen Harris, 10, added.

Ava Hapeshis, 14, waited for her older sister, Adalynn, to walk down the hall of the middle school.

“It’s very heartwarming to me. She’s done so much for me and I can’t believe that she’s finally going off and starting her life,” she said.

Adalynn will study at the College of Charleston.

“She always gives me the best advice, and I’m always in her room,” Giavanna Nicastro, 14, said as she eagerly waited to lock eyes with her sister, Sofia, during the senior walk.

Sofia will study at High Point University this fall.

Carol Burton, a fourth-grade teacher at Waccamaw Intermediate, was a favorite among the graduating class.

“I’m invited to all their parties, and I can’t wait for those,” Burton said. “It means everything.”

Nicholas Papadea, 14, saw his role model in her cap and gown: his sister, Ella Marina, who will study biology at Wofford College.

“I’m excited for her,” he said.