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Alcovey High School graduates class of 2025; superintendent releases diplomas
Summary
Alcovey High School held its 2025 commencement in May, with Newton County Schools officials, student speakers and awards highlighted. Superintendent Duke Bradley certified graduates and released diplomas after faculty certification; the class received more than $27 million in scholarship offers.
Alcovey High School in Newton County held its graduation for the class of 2025 in May 2025, with Newton County Board of Education members, district administrators and student speakers taking part in the ceremony. Duke Bradley, superintendent of Newton County Schools, certified the graduating class and released the diplomas.
The ceremony included student addresses, awards recognitions and remarks from district leaders. Abigail Coggin, chair of the Newton County Board of Education, opened the event by congratulating the graduates: "Graduates, as chair of the Newton County Board of Education, I want to congratulate you on this momentous occasion." Christopher Williams, principal of Alcovey High School, told students, "Congratulations, students, on a job well done." Valedictorian Francisco Alvarado told classmates, "If you believe in the dream, the dream will believe in you." Salutatorian Nevaeh Craven also delivered remarks to the assembled graduates and guests.
In his remarks and formal certification, Superintendent Duke Bradley said the students met the district's and state requirements to participate in commencement and stated, "I hereby release the diplomas, of the Alcovey High School class of 2025." Principal Christopher Williams had earlier certified that each candidate "has met the requirements for a diploma prescribed by the Newton County Board of Education, the State of Georgia, and the faculty of Alcovey High School." The certification followed recognition of graduates and presentation of school awards.
Administrators provided outcome and class details during the ceremony. School officials said six students had been commissioned into the military and that members of the class had been offered a total of $27,381,613 in private, academic and athletic scholarships. Chad Walker, CEO and principal of the Newton College and Career Academy (NCCA), asked NCCA graduates to stand and noted there were 107 NCCA graduates in the ceremony, which officials said was nearly a quarter of the graduating class.
Awards presented or announced during the ceremony included the Alcovey Tiger Award, given to Parker Gassman; the principal's award, presented to Jamia Anderson and Saniyah Williams; and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup, awarded to Isaiah Hughes. The program also included a moment of silence to remember Jamoris Thrasher, a member of the class of 2025 who did not walk across the stage.
Board members and district leaders recognized the work of faculty and staff who organized the event, including Ashley Hawkins and Belinda Klein, and thanked families and community supporters. Several board members and representatives from district leadership were introduced during the program, including Trey Bailey (District 1), Eddie Johnson (District 2), Shakila Henderson Baker (vice chairperson, District 3), Anderson Bailey (District 4) and Abigail Coggin (chairperson, District 5). Commissioner Damon Mason of the Newton County Board of Commissioners was recognized as a special guest.
The ceremony closed with the traditional turning of tassels. School and district officials emphasized the diploma release as the formal step certifying completion of district and state requirements, and attendees were invited to celebrate the graduates' next steps into college, military service, apprenticeships or the workforce.
