At graduation ceremonies during the next three weeks, areastudents will take short walks that conclude 12 years ofprogressive educational achievement when they cross the stage toreceive their high school diplomas.

Speakers at each school will be the school’s valedictorian andsalutatorian, with other students scheduled to speak at someceremonies. No speakers from outside the schools have beenscheduled, officials said.

Miller Hammil, headmaster at Brookhaven Academy, said 38 seniorswill graduate from the private school.

“We’ve had a great school year and I commend their efforts,” hesaid.

BA’s ceremony will be the first held when proud parents gather inJohn R. Gray Gymnasium Friday at 8 p.m.

“It will be a senior-led ceremony,” Hammil said. “We will also bedoing scholarship recognition and selections to the Hall of Famewill be revealed.”

Susan Chapman, Brookhaven High School principal, said 163 seniorswill be crossing the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, May 25, on KingField.

“I think it’s interesting that this class was freshmen when we wonthe baseball state championship, sophomores when we won thefootball state championship and juniors for the cheerleading statechampionship,” Chapman said. “So we’ve had a good run bothacademically and athletically with this class.”

The BHS class of 2007 also includes 28 Mississippi Scholars andothers receiving academic acknowledgement.

In the county, Enterprise Attendance Center will celebrate itsgraduation ceremonies on Friday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Henry L.Cole Field with 47 seniors crossing the stage.

“It’s little higher than previous years,” said Principal ShannonEubanks of the number of graduating students. “It’s big compared toclasses in recent years, but smaller than those coming. We reallydon’t have any smaller than 55 in coming years.”

The ceremony will not include the awarding of scholarships or otherrewards, Eubanks said. Those awards will be given next week duringa special dinner for recipients.

“We have a very good senior class,” he said. “They are one of thebrightest classes I have had. They have great potential and Iexpect much from them.”

Bill McGehee, Bogue Chitto Attendance Center principal, said theschool will graduate 35 seniors at 8 p.m. Friday, May 25, in BobCalhoun Gymnasium.

McGehee, in only his second year as principal at the school, saidthe 2007 class was one he especially looked forward to seegraduating.

“I’ve got to know this group of seniors better than that of ’06,”he said. “Some of these students will be receiving scholarships.Our top five students have been very competitive since gradeschool, and 90 percent of this class has been together sincekindergarten.”

Loyd Star Attendance Center will celebrate its graduationceremonies at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at Sambo Smith Field withWest Lincoln Attendance Center’s to follow at 8 p.m. Thursday, May24, in Jack Case Gymnasium.

Stephanie Allen, counselor at Wesson Attendance Center, said shewas proud of the 61 seniors graduating at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, inCopiah-Lincoln Community College’s Mullins Gymnasium.

“We’ve had a great group to work with. We have three eminentscholars, five students with a 4.0 on a weighted scale and twostudents selected to honors college, one at Mississippi StateUniversity and one at the University of Southern Mississippi,” shesaid.

In other area graduations, the Mississippi School of the Arts willconduct graduation ceremonies at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 26, inLampton Auditorium. It is the only ceremoney being held on aSaturday.

Lawrence County High School will host its ceremony at 7 p.m.Friday, May 18, on Cougar Field and Franklin County High Schoolwill host its ceremony at 8 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Louie MullinsMemorial Stadium.