Sixteen Grace Christian Academy seniors became alumni Friday evening as they ended their high school careers with a fling of a tassel and a toss of a hat.

The graduates – many of whom have known each other most of their lives – sat in quiet anticipation as Head of School Charlie Strickland and various speakers addressed them and the crowd before walking across the stage for their diplomas.

Meredian Holdings Group CFO John Dowdy gave the Graduation Address, during which he urged the students to dream big despite their small-town origins. He said that when he was a student at the University of Georgia, his academic adviser told him as a freshman that he was expected to be a mid-pack student. Instead he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in accounting.

Star student and valedictorian Joshua Carnes was recognized before he gave his speech, which was full of antidotes about his fellow seniors and their time together.
The ceremony included a performance by the GCA Literary Team and ended with a slideshow of baby pictures of the graduates.