Class President Johnston McCutcheon receives an advanced diploma during Hartselle High School’s 2015 commencement ceremony.| Joy Haynes

A rainy day moved Hartselle’s 103^rd graduation commencement into the Hartselle High School gym for the first time.

The gym was packed with well-wishers for the 254 candidates for graduation.

Principal Jeff Hyche had high praise for the class of 2015.

“This certainly is a class of champions,” Hyche said. “HHS is a better place because of this class. The HHS faculty and staff will definitely watch the futures of these students with interest.”

Other speakers included Student Government President Katie Glasgow and Senior Class President Johnston McCutcheon.

Glasgow welcomed everyone to the commencement and reminisced about the memorable moments the senior class had experienced. She took a moment of silence for Billy Jones, the HHS custodian who unexpectedly passed away at school earlier this year.

McCutcheon bid HHS a farewell with smiles and laughs. He reminded everyone that their graduation robes unified them as a class and assured everyone of their preparedness for the next step in life.

Hyche announced Mr. and Miss HHS as Holden Langston and Katy Beth Bole.

The valedictorian and salutatorian were officially named as well. Cody Long was announced as the valedictorian, and Robin Tumlinson was announced as the salutatorian.

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Riley Corum receives an advanced diploma during Hartselle’s graduation ceremony on Monday evening.| Joy Haynes

Katy Beth Bole walks across the stage to receive her diploma during the HHS commencement exercise.| Joy Haynes