CLASS OF 2026
Cabarrus, CabarrusKannapolis early colleges celebrate graduates
Alia Haynes, with Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College, said classmates overcame and adapted to achieve much.
Graduation from Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College is a time to celebrate with family and friends.
Cabarrus-Kannapolis' Yosief Fikadu said challenges were really opportunities.
Dolapo Ogunyomi was one of the speakers for the Cabarrus Early College of Technology graduation.
The Cabarrus Early College of Technology celebration was held inside West Cabarrus and continued outside.
The Cabarrus Early College of Technology graduates shared plenty of hugs and flowers.
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College Principal Dr. Chrystal Brown urged graduates to embrace the impact they can make on the future.
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College graduates had plenty to celebrate.
CABARRUS COUNTY
Cabarrus County students have been graduating from vari-ous high schools across the county over the past several days. The Independent Tribune is sharing photos from Cabarrus County Schools and highlights from the ceremonies. We will continue over the next several issues.
Cabarrus Early College of Technology
Cabarrus Early College of Technology celebrated the Class of 2026 on graduation day with messages highlighting perseverance, innovation and the close-knit bonds formed over four years together.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. John LeGrand praised the students for already making an impact beyond the classroom.
"You are not waiting for the future to arrive," LeGrand told graduates. "You are already building it."
School leaders noted that members of the graduating class earned college credits and certifications while developing leadership and technical skills through the early college program.
Student speaker Dolapo Ogunyomi reflected on the determination that carried the class through its challenges.
"We are not just graduates. We are proof of what happens when persistence meets purpose."
Dolapo Ogunyomi, Student speaker
"We are not just graduates," Ogunyomi said. "We are proof of what happens when persistence meets purpose."
Classmate Claire McGhee focused on the relationships formed during their years together at Cab Tech.
"The minute that we laughed together, struggled together, and succeeded together, we became way more than just classmates," McGhee said.
Shubh Srivastava recalled how the group evolved from unfamiliar faces into a supportive community.
"We went from 63 strangers who didn't know where to sit, to a family that figured out how to carry each other through the four years of Cab Tech," Srivastava said.
Principal Vance Fishback closed with a message encouraging graduates to pair achievement with character.
"The world desperately needs successful people who are also good," Fishback said. "And that … is who you are."
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College
Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School celebrated the Class of 2026 with messages of resilience, perseverance and optimism for the future during graduation ceremonies this week.
School leaders and student speakers reflected on the challenges the graduates overcame during their four years while encouraging them to embrace the opportunities ahead.
"The true value of education is not measured only in dollars or degrees. It is measured in possibilities," Deputy Superintendent Dr. John LeGrand told graduates.
Student speaker Alia Haynes highlighted the class's determination and adaptability throughout their high school journey.
"Over the past four years, we've proven that there's no obstacle that can stop us, no wall we can't tear down, and no situation that we aren't adaptable enough to overcome," Haynes said.
Fellow student Yosief Fikadu encouraged classmates to view expectations and challenges as opportunities rather than burdens.
"Pressure is a privilege, and if you are feeling any pressure or the weight of expectation, you are breathing rare air," Fikadu said.
Principal Dr. Chrystal Brown urged graduates to recognize the impact they can have on future generations through their choices and leadership.
"You are the authors of what comes next," Brown said. "The decisions you make, the effort you give, and the courage you show will help write the story for generations to come."
