Forty-five seniors to graduate Friday
By Melinda L. Lucas
Forty-five Albany High School seniors will receive their diplomas Friday night, May 23, during commencement exercises scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The event marks the conclusion of the students’ high school careers and the beginning of their next chapter.
This year’s class is led by valedictorian Avery Everitt and salutatorian Holden Sanchez. Other honor graduates include William LeMay, John Birkla, Jonathan Coody, Ethan Green, Gabby Lopez, Macie Breeden, Benjamin Barwon, Kenzie Neve, and Ann Davis.
The class has selected red as its color, the tulip as its flower, and the Diana Ross classic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” as the class song. The class motto is, “It is nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice,” and their chosen quote is “Put it in reverse Terry.”
Senior class president John Birkla will deliver the invocation, and vice president Abi Grace Hale will offer the benediction. Other class officers include Jonathan Coody, secretary; Landon Balliew, reporter; Kenzie Neve, treasurer; and Jayce Tinkle, parliamentarian.
Ezra Chambers, Albany Junior/Senior High School principal, will introduce the speakers and present the graduating class. Superintendent Daryl Stuard will confirm the graduates, and diplomas will be presented by Chambers, counselor Cheyenne Case, and school board president Robert Montgomery.
Case will also present the honor students and announce local scholarship recipients. The full total of scholarships to be awarded, including the amounts if the students continue to receive them over a four-year period, is $352,850.
The scholarships are given by numerous local, organizational, and memorial awards.
Class sponsors for the Class of 2025 are Donnie Lucas, Jimmy Fuentes, and Jennifer Everitt.
Senior cheerleaders will lead the audience in the singing of the alma mater before the ceremony concludes with the recessional.
Head ushers for the evening are Madi Parrott and Huffman Heatly. Other ushers include Mimi Ivy, Jayden Kelly, Jaxson Street, and Hollis Yeates.
Project Graduation will be held later that evening at the Feed Store, with graduates required to check in between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. Doors will lock at 10:30 for a night of supervised fun and activities.
