Despite the threat of rain and storms in the area, DeKalb County High School held its outdoor graduation ceremony for the class of 2024-25 last Friday evening in Dr. John L. Van Hooser Memorial Stadium. The event was moved up an hour earlier in hopes of beating any inclement weather.
The commencement began with a processional by the DCHS band, followed by an invocation by FCA member Andrew Dakas, a musical presentation by the DCHS Choir, and remarks by Class President Madeline Martin, and Valedictorian Kora Kilgore.
In her speech to the graduates, Class Valedictorian Kora Kilgore told her classmates that their time at DCHS had shaped their lives. “Every one of us have been writing our own story these past 4 years. The challenges we’ve faced, experiences we’ve had, and the knowledge we have gained has all shaped this chapter of our lives very differently. Some of our stories were shaped heavily by the sports we played and clubs we were in. By the long drives to away games and late nights at the field or competitions. Others were shaped by the responsibilities we gained, whether it be the job we had or the roles we had to step into at home but handled anyway,” said Kilgore.
“No matter what took up your time during these four years, we can all share one part of our story. The people we met. Whether it be teachers that became our mentors, coaches who taught us the value of hard work, or friends who stuck by us through the highs and lows. We can all agree that the people we met during our time here no doubt had the greatest impact on each of our stories.”
Class President Madeline Martin also spoke, reminding the class of their accomplishments. “I am honored to speak to you tonight on behalf of our entire class and the accomplishments we have made over these past four years. They have been a journey—full of highs, lows, long nights, and unforgettable memories. We've grown not just academically, but personally. We've been challenged, stretched, and shaped by everything we’ve experienced here,” said Martin.
Students were recognized for Honors and Service Awards along with Motlow associate degree recipients, Distinction, Military Enlistments, and Top Rank students.
The event also included presentations for three of its outstanding awards, the male and female White Rose Awards and the DCHS Citizenship Award.
DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis presented this year’s prestigious White Rose Awards to Avery Agee and Ty Webb, while Alissa Summers received the Citizenship Award.
The White Rose is presented to a boy and girl from the senior class with strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community and exemplary moral character.
The Citizenship Award is given to a student in the senior class who exemplifies strong academic performance and contribution to the school and community.
Diplomas were then presented to each member of the class by Principal Curtis and Director of Schools Patrick Cripps as their names were called by Assistant Principal Jenny Norris. The commencement closed with a Benediction by FCA member Seth Fuson and members of the class tossing their caps in celebration.
Members of the DCHS Class of 2024-25 are as follows:
Avery Nicole Avery, Brayan Aguirre Bustillo, Kevin Michael Ahlgard, Sarah Hannah Aldino, Brayden Lavaughn Alverson, Macy Lynn Anderson, Axel Abraham Aranda, Alisha Elaine Armour, Joe Donald Ashford, Nathaniel Edward Bain, Jaden Elise Barber, Kelsie Ann Barber, Ian Kyle Barnes, Jamey Renee Bradshaw, Olle Cameron Brookshire, Cale H. Brown, Caleb Keaton Buckley, Riley Jaythan Bullard, Jocelyn Burton, Grant Alexander Buterbaugh, Autumn Grace Byford, Adrian Alexander Cabrera Gutierrez, Tanner Glenn Cantrell, Elizabeth Ann Cardin, Stephen Chance Carter, Christopher Charlie Lynn Cartwright, Hector Cervantes, Madison Rae Churchwell, Owen Garth Coffee, Audrey Dare Collins, Landon Douglas Colwell, Martin Coronado, Raylie Danielle Cowan, Ansley Caroline Crook, Danis Manuel Cruz Villalobos, Adreana Marie Cuevas, Andrew Jackson Dakas, Annabella Eleni Dakas, Leonardo Delgado Perales, Stephen Joseph Dibattiste, Chloe Ariel Dies, Trinity Hope Dodson, Milas Beck Driver, Greyson Wayne Emme, Rosny Saldary Experanza Amador, Logan Isaiah Farris, Ashton Jerome Ferrell, Kristi Rashell Flores Calderon, Shaelee Nicole Foster, Lauren Elaine Fry, Seth Wilmore Fuson, Eden Jolene Garner, Talan Linnell Gentry, Alyssa Brooke Gilpin, Marleth-Guadalupe Godinez-Silva, Jesus Daniel Gomez, Leslie Gonsalez-Martinez, Allison Faith Marie Goodwin, Camila Granados-Cortes, Caleb Benton Gray, Zoe McKenzie Guinn, Jesus Guzman-Godinez, Miguel Alejandro Guzman-Jantes, Addison Renea Hale, Christian Cole Hale, Macey MaKenna Hale, Maddox Christian Hale, Raven Trinity Hale, William Samuel Harris, Tryton Lee Hartle, Clayton Daniel Hattaway, Alexis Riley Hawkins, Julianna Desiree Haynes, Katya Renee Hennessee, Erick Yandel Hernandez- Dragustinovis, Darin Garcia Herrera, Jackson Ryder Hodges, Charles Ean Holland, Makinzy Lynn Jenkins, Leah Nicole Johnson, Hannah Grace Keith, Kora Lin Kilgore, Dallas Lealan Kirby, Katherine Irene Knowles, Victoria Lynn Knowles, Addison Isabella Kyle, Julio Arturo Lanier, Caleb Reed Lawson, Christian Jacob Lawson, Aidan Michael Malone, Braeden Lee Mangin, Aaron Micheal Maple, Cesar Angel Martinez Soto, Jesus Alejandro Martinez-Rivera, Madeline Aiko Martin, Ninfa Jireth Martinez Parral, Jackson Carter Mathis, Brody Daniel Matias, Ashton Brooke McClain, Conner Preston McClure, Kristopher Steven Cole McMillen, Luke Leeallen Midgett, Keara McKinsey Milligan, Sara Grace Moore, Kenley Jewel Morris, Landon Alexander Moses, Marvin Bee Mosley, Paisly Nicole Mullican, Jose Luis Muniz Guzman, Savanna Hope Murphy, Deeanna Nicole Neal, Layla Kaye Newby, Amy Lindale Nokes, Mara Jade Oakley, Jesus Alan Padilla, Charlotte Joy Paladino, Jordan Dallas Parker, Megyn Kyndal Patterson, Bradley Jae Pelham, Bryna Mae Pelham, Jesus Emmanuel Perez-Almaguer, Lucia Perez Torres, Mylie Rose Phillips, Joyce Janice Portillo, Alison Leigh Poss, Evan Michael Prichard, Christopher Aaron Pulley, Bryan Ramirez-Celaya, Abril Rangel Salazar, Siraya Ann Ratley, Dylan Thomas Reed, Laurie Beth Rigsby, Chloe Maleah Robinson, Emily Louise Robinson, Zeva Allyse Robinson, Kobe Bryce Roller, Kinsley Diane Savage, Kylee Layne Savage, Isaiah Lucas Seale, Julio Cesar Sebastian Santiago, Andrew Bryan Shahan, Lauren Darlene Shehane, Kane Lamont Smith, Owen Andrew Snipes, Ayden Michael Sprague, Braden Leo Sprague, Alexis Grace Stanley, Bryson Patrick Stanley, Jonathan Thomas Stanley, Daniel Curtis Stiffler, Kerstain Sadie Irene Strawser, Jayden Austin Sturdivant, Alissa Marie Summers, Gracie Jo Summers, Kaitlyn Brooke Summers, Jericho Dekota Taylor, Mason James Taylor, Emily Leanne Teague, Antonio C. Thomas, James David Thomas, Emma Grace Thompson, Jennifer Selina Torres Soto, Nhan Thanh Truong, Emma Rose Valdez, Javan Wayne Walker, Gabriella Paige Washer, Ty Rustyn Webb, Crissy Nicole White, Jaden Maddox Wildes, Katelyn Marie Williams, Kaitlyn Lu Anne Wood, Christina Kay Youngblood and Emily Tate Young.
