A group of extraordinary champions stepped across the Chaparral High School auditorium stage to receive diplomas Thursday during Killeen ISD’s annual summer graduation.
Proud family and friends cheered as the newest Class of 2025 graduates culminated high school and stepped into their future.
US Army Lt. Col. RaShaun Warren, the event speaker, called the graduates overachievers.
“A lot of folks run around and are a little bit ordinary,” he said, “and then you recognize folks that have a little bit extra to them and today you are those folks who have a little extra.”
The mix of ordinary and extra, he said, made them extraordinary.
“Some of you ground it out a little earlier than the rest,” he said of summer graduates who finished early. “You pushed yourself harder. Others,” he said “took a little longer than expected. You also ground it out and pushed a little harder. You’re extra ordinary.”
“You are setting the stage for what you are becoming or what you seek to be,” he said. “What do you want out of your life? You want something because you didn’t quit.”
Warren said he is the first in his family to graduate from high school, from college, to have a career and will be the first, he said, to retiree.
“A lot of people told me I wasn’t going to do it,” he said. “The opposition is out there and say negative things. The biggest opposition is yourself. You can stop yourself from achieving. You can quit if you desire and you can win if you want to.”
“This is the first step to greatness. It’s up to you to accept your greatness and move forward.”
Chaparral High’s Silver Lynx choir performed the National Anthem. The Junior ROTC posted the colors. Jasmin Garraway of the school orchestra played Pomp and Circumstance.
“It was really wonderful,” said Kayla Kirk, a new Chaparral High graduate. “I’m so happy. I’ll always remember that I didn’t give up.” She plans to work in interior design.
“It feels very refreshing. I can finally move on,” said Ellison graduate Krystal Cheeks, who is already in college pursuing a future in graphic design. She said she would always remember how nice her teachers were.
Photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720328219141/