Head of School on The Class of 2026

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the Rise Academy Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony. To our families, friends, staff, board members, supporters, and most importantly, our graduates — thank you for being here to celebrate this special moment with us.

This class has been one to watch from the very beginning. Since my first year at Rise Academy, there was always something different about this group. They were focused. Motivated. Driven from within. They set a standard for what it means to take ownership of your future, and they did it while building a community that truly feels like family.

These 16 students have laughed together, prayed together, challenged one another, supported one another, and somehow always managed to keep us on our toes with a quick-witted joke at exactly the right moment. They have brought joy into our hallways and leadership into our school community.

And today, we celebrate not only who they are, but where they are going.

This graduating class has achieved a 100% college acceptance rate, and every single student has a plan for what comes next. Some are staying close to home, while others are heading as far as Atlanta and beyond — wherever the friendly skies may take one future flight attendant among us. Within this class sits a future lawyer, electrician, real estate agent, mathematician, engineer, tattoo artist, OB-GYN, two future cosmetologists, and another student pursuing opportunities through the Apprentice School. These are young people with vision, talent, and purpose.

This class has also led our school spiritually and culturally. They have served faithfully in chapel, and among them is Rise Academy’s very first student chaplain — a milestone that reflects the leadership and character of this group as a whole.

More than anything, these graduates have set an example for the students coming behind them. They have shown our younger Rise students what excellence, perseverance, leadership, and community look like in real time. They are not just graduating from Rise Academy — they are leaving a legacy here.

And while these accomplishments are impressive and worthy of celebration, what I am most proud of is that each of these students will walk out of our doors prepared to positively impact society as both good humans and kind souls.

We are sending the world:

More determination because of David.
More compassion because of Kyra.
More resilience because of Ahkei.
More purpose because of Ce’ana.
More problem-solving because of Ce’asia.
More beauty & joy because of Coreyona.
More art and creativity because of Michelle.
More laughter & love because of Devonte.
More people willing to fight for justice because of Chance.
More leadership because of Ky’heim.
More kindness because of BJ.
More grace because of Ivy.
More spirit and confidence because of Cameron.
More ambition because of Tayonna.
More light because of Laniya.

To the Class of 2026: we are proud of you. Proud of the way you’ve grown. Proud of the way you’ve carried yourselves. Proud of the way you have represented this school and your families. You are the next generation of changemakers, and we cannot wait to see what you do next. Congratulations, Class of 2026.

“More than anything, these graduates have set an example for the students coming behind them. They have shown our younger Rise students what excellence, perseverance, leadership, and community look like in real time.”

Dr. Brittany Lopes, Head of School