‘Bitter sweet:' Apalachee High School seniors graduate months after tragedy
Seniors who survived the mass shooting inside Apalachee High School last fall passed a significant milestone this month.
They officially graduated Thursday evening.
'Feels good! I feel very prideful right now,' said Jovany Hernandez.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Hernandez and his classmate Gustavo Padilla spoke to Channel 2's Courtney Francisco as they headed into the ceremony on campus.
They said the celebration is complex.
'Bitter sweet, you know?' said Padilla.
They said enduring unspeakable loss of their Math teachers Cristina Irimie and Coach Ricky Aspinwall and classmates Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo has amplified their thankfulness for the opportunity to graduate.
On stage during the ceremony, valedictorian Kaleigh Spencer described persevering in the face of adversity.
'Simply walking across the stage after such an event deserves recognition,' said Spencer.
TRENDING STORIES:
'It changed me': Undocumented GA college student talks about being in ICE custody for 15 days
Mercedes-Benz to move North American corporate headquarters to Sandy Springs
Hundreds of homes could soon be built near Gwinnett river, but neighbors worry it could flood
Speakers did not forget the accomplishments and accolades that came before the tragedy.
Most of the ceremony focused on the entire four years students spent at Apalachee High School, lessons learned and getting their hands on their diplomas.
After sharing words of inspiration, students turned their tassels with hard-earned wisdom they said will follow them to college, work and the military.
'Blessed to see another day,' said Hernandez.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2 taken to the hospital after jumping to escape DeKalb apartment fire
A fire at a DeKalb County apartment complex forced tenants to take some extreme measures to get to safety. Two people are hospitalized after they jumped from a second-floor window. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The fire happened around 1 a.m. at the Mirador Apartments off Brockett Road in Clarkston. The flames started on the lower level and spread to the upper level. One man who jumped had a broken leg and a woman was cut jumping to safety. Both were taken to a hospital. Another victim that spoke to Channel 2 Action News said he is thankful that he escaped unharmed after he jumped from his top-floor balcony. 'I don't know how to say, I don't know how to explain, but thank you God,' Freddy Lumba said. Fire investigators are still working to find the cause of the fire. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta tenants say they're being wrongly labeled as squatters amid unsafe living conditions 'A little worried:' Back-to-back shootings at Snellville park have visitors on edge Driver, 9-year-old hospitalized after suspected DUI driver smashes into car during chase [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Teen trans athlete at center of rightwing attacks wins track events in California
A teenage transgender athlete in California, who has been at the center of widespread political attacks by rightwing pundits and the Trump administration, won in two track events over the weekend. The 16-year-old athlete, AB Hernandez, tied for first place alongside two other athletes in the high jump, and tied for first place in the triple jump. This comes as the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal funding from California for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports. The meet took place days after the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in the state, changed its rules. Now, if a transgender athlete places in a girls' event, the athlete who finishes just behind will also receive the same place and medal. Despite protests at the meet, the athletes expressed joy during the meet, multiple outlets reported. 'Sharing the podium was nothing but an honor,' another high school athlete said to the San Francisco Chronicle. 'Although the publicity she's been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she's a superstar. She's a rock star. She's representing who she is.' Hernandez finished the high jump with a mark of 5ft 7in (1.7 meters), the Associated Press reported, with no failed attempts. The two co-winners also cleared that height after each logged a failed attempt. The three shared the first-place win, smiling as they stepped together onto the podium. Hernandez received first place in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with an athlete who trailed by just more than a half-meter, the AP said. Earlier in the afternoon, Hernandez placed second in the long jump. Related: Scared advertisers, flag bans and Trump: the US is in for a troubled Pride 2025 Hernandez and her participation in the meet brought national attention and attacks by the Trump administration. She has become the target of a national, rightwing campaign to ban trans athletes from youth sports. The justice department said it would investigate the California Interscholastic Federation and the school district to determine whether they violated federal sex-discrimination law. The federation's rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls' participation in high school sports. They announced the change after Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California unless it bars trans athletes from competing on girls' teams. But the federation said it decided on the change before the Trump threats. Hernandez's participation in the sport is allowed by a 2013 state law, stating that students can compete in the category reflecting their gender identity. At least 24 states have laws on the books barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain women's or girls' sports competitions, the AP reported.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NKK Switches of America Announces Vincent Matsushita as President of North American Operations
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NKK Switches, a global designer, manufacturer and switch solution provider of innovative electromechanical switches, announces the appointment of Mr. Vincent Matsushita as President of its North American operations in Scottsdale, AZ. This election is in consistent alignment with NKK's ongoing commitment of ensuring excellence in quality and procuring market share in North America. Raised and educated in Japan, Vincent moved to southern CA and worked as a chemical engineer, and from there, a marketing specialist with ITT Industries in the Military/Aerospace division. Here he was deeply involved with NASA's international space station JEM project. For the past 18 years, Vincent was employed with Ryosan Technologies USA, Inc., a Japanese semiconductor distributor, first as a regional sales manager, and more recently, as president. NKK is pleased to welcome Vincent, an accomplished executive with extensive technical knowledge and qualifications in management and distribution. He was drawn to NKK's traditional values and spirit. He is anxious to unite his expertise with the NKK team and enlarge the vision of increased market share while supplying superior products and exceptional customer care. About NKK Switches NKK has been a global designer and manufacturer of the industry's most extensive array of electromechanical switches for over 70 years. A complete suite of comprehensive solutions is available, including design, programming, value added services and ongoing engineering support. Their portfolio includes toggles, rockers, pushbuttons, programmable, keylocks, rotaries, slides, tactiles, tilt switches, touch screens and membranes; and within the group types are illuminated, surface mount, sealed, IP rated and emergency stop switches. Various power levels, mounting types and terminals in ultra-miniature, subminiature, miniature and standard sizes are offered. For more information: Media Contactmarketing@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
