2017 Cabot High School Graduation: 400+ Photos

It was a big night as 704 students graduated from Cabot High School on May 19th.

The graduation ceremony for the “Class of 2017” was held at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Thousands of family and friends packed the arena to watch their graduate walk across the stage. 

Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman opened the ceremony and expressed how proud he was of the graduating class. Included in the 704 students that graduated, 233 students graduated with Honors and High Honors. Along with earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher, there are specifice course requirements that must be met in order to be an honor graduate. 

This year, Cabot High School had 64 High Honor Graduates, with GPA's above a 4.0 and 169 Honor Graduates with a GPA between 3.5 and 4.0. The Class of 2017 was also awarded over $12.8 million dollars in scholarship opportunities.

This year's Valedictorian was Joseph Sepulveda, along with Co-Salutatorians Lexi Robertson and Amin Nadirali.

Joseph was awarded the Donaghey Program Scholarship, the UALR EIT Scholarship, the Cabot Public Schools Board of Education Scholarship, and the UALR Chancellor's Distinguished Scholarship. Joseph plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and pursue a career in Engineering.

Joseph also took time to remember the great times he had at Cabot High School. He also thanked everyone for helping him reach his accomplishments. He then addressed his fellow classmates.

“It is what we do after today that defines out lives. Eighteen years of getting older and learning the way the world works has made us who we are. Some of us are still searching for ourselves, and that's fine. We all live our lives with a lot to prove and lose. We have the rest of our lives to live and we'll make it through whatever happens. We need not hide from the future, we need to believe we will achieve greatness. We need to bid farewell to the struggles of our past and look on to what's next in our lives.”

Earlier in the day during graduation practice, Senator Eddie Joe Williams presented Joseph with a Senate Citation for excelling academically throughout his high school years and his well well-deserved honor of being valedictorian of his class. Senator Williams also presented Joseph and Cabot High School Principal Henry Hawkins with Senate coins. 

Co-Salutatorian Amin Nadirali was awarded the National Merit Finalist Scholarship, the National Honor Society Scholarship, and the Georgia Tech Scholarship for Undergrads. Amin plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in Computer Science.

Amin thanked everyone in attendance and reminded his fellow classmates about the many adventures they shared in and out of the classroom. He said they are not just a group of students who attended classes together, but a family as well.

“Let us celebrate the opportunities given to us by CHS, as it provided an environment that allowed us to develop a common solid foundation and become unique individuals at the same time. Let us thank the teachers who were devoted to providing us with a first-class education and who brought out the best in all of us with their inspirational spirits, and let us thank our parents for supporting us ever since the beginning.”

Co-Salutatorian Lexi Robertson spent her entire education in the Cabot School District. She received the U of A Chancellor's Scholarship, Governor's Distinguished Scholarship, Jim and Maxine Thompson Scholarship, and the Hanshaw Citizen Local Scholarship. Lexi plans to attend the University of Arkansas to pursue a career in law.

Lexi reminisced about her time in the classroom saying high school has been memorable but she's anxious to take on the next step of her life.

“I have honestly loved high school even through the tears, but I know we are all ready for this next endeavor. So let us all go out knowing that the sky is the limit and nothing can hinder us from taking on that job or completing college in the next 4 or 5 years. You all have the tools, so go out and use them. Thank you seniors for all of the outstanding memories. I cannot wait to see where the next few years take us.”

After the speeches, Mr. Hawkins along with his assistant principals called students on stage while Cabot School Board President Ricky Hill presented them with their diplomas. 

Following the changing of the tassel, Mr. Hawkins presented the Class of 2017.