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VIDALIA, La. — The first class to begin at Concordia Parish Academy as kindergarteners and then to graduate as adults walked across the stage at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center on Friday evening.

CPA opened its doors in 2012 with only kindergarten through fifth-grade students, adding one grade level each year until it graduated its first class that started at the school in fifth grade in 2020.

The Class of 2025, consisting of 17 students, had among them eight students with associate’s degrees in general studies, which requires 60 hours of college-level coursework with at least a cumulative 2.0 grade-point-average at Northwestern State University while also managing the demands of high school.

Salutatorian Taliyah Floyd and Valedictorian Kaedyn Byrd reflected on the years the class spent together at CPA.

“I will always remember the friendships we have made over the years. Some of us have only known each other for a few years, but some of us, referred to as the OGs, have been together for a total of thirteen years,” Floyd said. “That’s years of arguments, laughter, comfort, friendship, and occasional sadness that we will never forget.”

After years spent together as classmates, the Class of 2025 feels like a family, said Byrd. And like a family, the Class of 2025 didn’t always see eye to eye.

“We can be honest, the drama was crazy at points, but no matter what, we always found a way to come together. That’s what I’ve always loved about us — our support for each other,” Byrd said. “Teamwork truly defines our time at CPA.”

As they embark on the next chapter of life, Byrd shared words of advice for her class, whether their goals are to go to college, join the military or head straight into the workforce.

“Stay curious, embrace change and never stop learning.”

And no matter what path they chose, CPA graduate Ragde Torres reminded her classmates to never stop aiming high and dreaming big with a song, “Over the Rainbow.”

And as they tossed their graduation caps, the graduates started singing, “Always had high, high hopes.”

Find some of these graduation highlights in the video above, as well as the gallery below.