Hundreds packed the gymnasium to watch a historic moment Thursday night: the first – and last – graduating class from Butler County Magnet School marching into the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Class president Sha’Kayla Mixon welcomed attendees to the commencement exercises, the first to be held in the new school, which will officially be renamed “Georgiana School” this summer.

Valedictorian Shameka Rodgers and salutatorian Hope Browder reflected on their hopes and dreams for the future and shared inspirational Bible quotes with their 41 fellow graduates and audience.

As interim principal Jennifer Burt presented the graduates with their diplomas, cheers, applause and the shriek of klaxon horns sounded in the gym.

Following the customary turning of the tassels, the proud graduates marched to the rear of the gym in the recessional to gather for another rite of passage: tossing their mortarboards in the air with an enormous cheer.

Also participating in the program were Thelsea Scott, Kevin Tolin, Melissa Betts, Sharran Matthews and Kendal Nixon.

In addition to Rodgers and Browder, honor graduates from the class of 2010 were Melissa Betts, Thelsea Scott, Robyn Hornsby and Sha’Kayla Mixon.