farragutpress

$41+ mil new BHS record; Haynes among 486 grads

Senior beats brain cancer, which dates back to age 3

May 21, 2025 by Alan Sloan

Perhaps Madison Haynes is especially appreciative about being one of Bearden High School’s 486 Class of 2025 graduates.

“She was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer at age 3,” said her father, Jeff Haynes, after Madison and her BHS classmates completed the school’s Commencement Ceremony in BHS’s John H. Burnette Stadium — which included a roughly 50 minute rain/storm delay — Thursday evening, May 15.

“We’re just super proud of her,” Madison’s mother, Pamella Haynes, said. “We didn’t know right before her 4th birthday if she was going to be here. We almost lost her multiple times. So it’s just wonderful for her to be here.

“She’s several years being cancer-free now,” the mother added. “Yes, over 14 years.”

“And over 14 years later, she graduates from Bearden High School as an Honor student,” Jeff Haynes said. “God is good.”

“Locally, she had the surgery with Dr. Harris, the neurosurgeon at (East Tennessee) Children’s Hospital; and then she did her proton radiation at MD Anderson (Center) in Houston.”

Also on hand from the family was Madison’s younger brother, Jameson Haynes, a BHS junior.

Other Class of 2025 highlights

The BHS Class of 2025 “has excelled in many ways,” said principal Deborah Sayers in her Commencement address. “One hundred and thirty-four seniors (29 percent of the senior class) earned a 4.0 or better grade-point average. BHS 2025 graduates will be continuing their education at 75 different colleges and universities in 22 different states and two countries outside of the United States — Ireland and Sweden.

“... The Class of 2025 was also rewarded for their academics and achievements,” Sayers continued. “Seniors received scholarship offers totaling $41,753,615. This is a new record for Bearden High School and is over 2.8 million more than last year.

“The class includes one National Merit Semifinalist; one National Merit Finalist; two National Merit Scholarship winners; two National Merit Commended Students; eight National Hispanic Scholars; five African-American Scholar awards, one Ned McWherter Scholar; one Hagan Foundation Scholar; 11 Seal of Biliteracy awardees and one student with a World Language Honors Seal; several Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold awardees; three National Achievers Society Scholars; one student with perfect 36 ACT score; and over 200 earned National Industry certifications.

“The class also includes members of the Nationally Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors for JROTC; 16 All-State musicians, boys basketball regular season district champs; girls basketball TSSAA ‘final four’ — district regular season and tournament champions — girls lacrosse TSSAA ‘final four’ and region champs; boys golf TSSAA Region champs and state runner-ups; girls soccer TSSAA state runner-ups along with district regular season, tournament and region champs; football TSSAA state playoff quarterfinals; and many played in the flag football team’s inaugural season. This group also includes TSSAA Game Day and Pom state champions, UDA Pom National Champions and includes numerous All-District, All-Region and All-State student-athletes.

“Finally, the Class of 2025 had 210 Advanced Placement student recognitions, including 88 AP Scholars, 95 AP Scholars with Distinction and 27 AP Scholars with Honors. Forty-eight students are AP Capstone Diploma candidates. This class helped BHS achieve its newest national ranking in US News and World Report’s 2025 Best American High Schools.”

Speeches, awards, song

The Ceremony also included speeches from valedictorian Kendall Hubbs and salutatorian Grace Page plus an Alumni of the Year award and the Seniors of Bearden Choir performing “The Road Home.”

Also speaking were graduates Ariel Dickman, Senior Committe president, and Kendyl May, Senior Committee Fundraising chair.