Lucy C. Laney celebrated a graduating class of just under 200 students on Friday afternoon, at the Bell Auditorium.
An unexpected homecoming
The already exciting ceremony was made even more special when a group of military siblings surprised their younger sister by appearing on stage.
Graduate LeAunna Briggs let out a scream when she saw her three sisters, Kristaisa Brown, Mikala Porter and Jaleyn Thomas, who have been deployed by the U.S. Army in Texas, Kansas and Georgia, respectively.
The four sisters have not been all united together at one time since 2022.
The girls’ mother, Shynetta Briggs, said her daughters have a bond like “gorilla glue.”
Now a Laney graduate, Briggs plans to join the U.S. Army herself.
“I hope she stays strong, whatever the world throws at her, she got it,” said Thomas.
“I just hope she enjoys her journey,” Brown added.
Laney’s alumni community
Lucy C. Laney Alumni filled up half of the seats on the floor of the Bell Auditorium on Friday with former graduates from the classes of 1960 all the way up to 2015 gathering to show their support for the class of 2025.
Salutatorian Kiara Gray acknowledged these alumni members during the ceremony.
“They create opportunities for those seeking higher education, they raise money for our athletes, they reward students who’ve done well…I truly believe this is something we should all cherish,” she said. “This is what makes Laney so special – community.”
Gray plans to attend Augusta University to major in accounting, aspiring to become a risk analyst.
‘A purpose for continuing’
Valedictorian Memorie Rhodes took to the stage to address her fellow graduates, while talking about the loss of her father during the first semester of her ninth grade year, an experience that would go on to shape the remainder of her high school years.
“I speak about this part of my high school journey because it gave me a reason, a purpose for continuing, to keep going and growing,” she said.
Rhodes plans to attend Kennesaw State University where she will study Computer Science.
