Apalachee High School graduates remember victims during ceremony
Apalachee High School graduation
The school year that changed Barrow County forever finally comes to a close. It was graduation night for Apalachee High School. While the mass shooting was talked about during the ceremony, Thursday night was about celebrating the accomplishments of the class of 2025.
BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Apalachee High School held its graduation ceremony this week, marking the end of a school year defined by tragedy and resilience.
What we know:
The Class of 2025 crossed the stage under the lights of the school’s football stadium, cheered on by proud families and faculty, in a ceremony that honored both achievement and loss. The event came nine months after a mass shooting at the school that claimed the lives of two teachers and two students, shaking the Barrow County community.
"Ultimately, what happened on September 4 travels through us throughout the school day looking forward to whatever comes next," said class valedictorian Kaleigh Spencer, referencing the shooting that began their senior year.
Despite the emotional weight of the moment, the focus remained on perseverance, growth, and hope. Students and speakers acknowledged the tragedy throughout the evening, while also celebrating how far the class had come.
The entrance sign of Apalachee High School adorned with flowers from visitors on September 5, 2024 in Winder, Georgia. Two students and two teachers were shot and killed at the school on September 4, and a 14-year-old suspect, who is a student at the
"We are our senior selves who experienced the unimaginable and here we are as seniors walking across the stage as changed people through it all," Spencer said.
The attack, carried out by a fellow student, according to police, had a lasting impact on the tight-knit community. But on graduation night, the message was one of unity and resilience.
"These kids have had a very rough year," said William Philip, whose daughter Adriana was among the graduates. "Don't let anybody's one heinous act deflect you from your future. Remain strong because there's a lot more good in this world than bad."
Through heartbreak and healing, the Class of 2025 reached the finish line—emerging not just as graduates, but as symbols of courage in the face of unimaginable adversity.
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