MT. AIRY, Ga. — Members of the Habersham Central High School Class of 2026 crossed the stage Friday night as messages of perseverance, faith, gratitude and personal growth echoed throughout Raider Stadium.
Student speakers reflected on the challenges and milestones that shaped their high school years, while country music star and Habersham Central alumna Kimberly Schlapman joined school leaders, family and friends in celebrating the graduating class.
WATCH HCHS graduation
Stormy start to an otherwise smooth celebration
Graduates and their families spent much of the day watching the weather forecast to see whether the ceremony could remain outdoors. Less than an hour before graduation began, a torrential rainstorm swept through the area, leaving many wondering if the ceremony would proceed as planned.
Just as quickly as the storm arrived, however, it moved out, delaying graduation by about 30 minutes.
Loved ones filled the stands at Raider Stadium wearing clear rain jackets and ponchos as they waited to cheer on the graduates. Students wiped rainwater from their seats before settling in for the ceremony. School officials adjusted the order of events and distributed diplomas earlier in the evening to ensure every graduate received one if weather forced the ceremony to end early.
It didn’t.
The skies cleared, and the ceremony continued as planned, including Schlapman’s keynote address following her selection this year as the Habersham Central High School Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
‘Born in the Boondocks’
One of Habersham County’s best-known natives, Schlapman opened her remarks with a nod to one of Little Big Town’s best-known songs, telling graduates she was “born in the Boondocks… right down there on Camp Creek.”
The familiar hometown reference set the tone for a speech centered on roots, resilience and the values she said shaped her life long before success in Nashville. Schlapman told graduates that growing up in Habersham County taught her honesty, integrity and perseverance.
“Integrity is not about being seen,” Schlapman said. “It’s about who you are when you’re completely alone.”
She reflected on growing up in a blue-collar family, spending summers picking green beans in the Georgia heat and watching her parents work tirelessly every day.
“Hard work can feel like a burden sometimes,” Schlapman said. “But when you get to the other side of that hard work, you realize that hard work is actually one of the greatest gifts.”
Schlapman also shared personal stories about overcoming fear, rejection and grief throughout her life and career.
“This kindergarten dropout had to learn slowly, and sometimes painfully, to step out of her comfort zone and do hard things,” she said, drawing laughter as she described crying daily during kindergarten and nearly refusing to return to school after a fire drill.
She spoke candidly about setbacks in the music industry, including being told by a Nashville record executive that she needed voice lessons.
“But none of those ‘no’s’ finished me,” Schlapman said. “They just made me stronger.”
Buoyed by a community’s love
Schlapman, whose first husband died early in her career, also reflected on navigating devastating personal grief and credited her faith, family, friends and bandmates with helping her continue moving forward.
“I had been loved too well by this community to quit,” the Grammy-winning singer said.
She encouraged graduates to carry the lessons learned in Habersham County into every stage of life.
“You already have everything you need,” she told the Class of 2026. “The honesty, the integrity, the work ethic, the perseverance and the love.”
She closed by reminding graduates to trust the values instilled in them by their hometown upbringing.
“Trust it. Believe in it. Carry it with you, and never, ever stop giving it away,” Schlapman said. “Thank you, Jesus. We were born and raised in the boondocks!”
Students reflect on lessons learned
Valedictorian Sarah Grady encouraged classmates to step outside their comfort zones and embrace opportunities that may feel uncertain.
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there,” Grady said, quoting author John Assaraf.
Grady reflected on trying wrestling during high school despite doubts from others and said the experience helped her grow personally and form lasting friendships. She urged classmates to pursue new experiences, even when they feel uncomfortable.
“No one has ever become a better version of themselves by staying comfortable,” she said.
Grady also spoke about choosing happiness intentionally rather than waiting for it to appear through achievements or circumstances.
“So go on the walk, look at the stars, [spend time with your] friends and your hobby, and find happiness,” she urged.
Salutatorian Zach Baker focused his remarks on perseverance, faith and the importance of living with purpose.
“To my classmates, congratulations. We made it,” Baker said. “You showed up when it was hard. You kept going when you didn’t feel like it, and you didn’t quit.”
Baker shared how the personal loss of his brother, Chris, who died at age 26, changed how he views life and success. “Life is short. It moves faster than we think,” he said, encouraging his fellow graduates to make faith part of their journey. “The greatest decision any of us will ever make isn’t what career we choose or where we go next. It’s whether or not we choose to follow Jesus.”
STAR Student Kaleb Adams challenged graduates to think carefully about how they interpret challenges and define themselves moving forward.
“It is not events that disturb people, but their judgments concerning them,” Adams said, quoting the philosopher Epictetus.
Adams encouraged his classmates to focus on their actions and character rather than simply discussing goals or ideals. “At some point, you have to stop thinking about it and decide, ‘This is who I am. This is what I stand for, and this is how I’m going to live,’” he said.
Class President Maya Valerie described the graduating class as a “mosaic” shaped by family, friends, teachers and shared experiences.
“We are a collection of love, lessons and connections,” Valerie said. “And this is only the beginning of what we will become.”
Click here to watch HCHS 2026 graduation
Don’t miss what everyone in town is talking about.
Join 4,000+ locals and choose our free newsletter covering news, events and the stories shaping our region.
