Piedmont Academy honored the 25 members of its 41st senior class with a graduation ceremony Saturday in the school gym.

Class Salutatorian Lauren Mitchell urged seniors to use the knowledge gained at Piedmont and never to forget the special memories of this class. Valedictorian Matthew O'Brien encouraged classmates to take the harder paths to achieve success.

Headmaster Tony Tanner began the presentation of awards by honoring Matthew and Lauren. Suzanne Arena presented the Charlotte S. Crawley Faculty Scholarship to Lauren, and Gayle Marsh honored Mary Ashlynn Dennis with the Grandparents' Club Scholarship.

The Jack H. Yearwood Scholarship, presented each year by the Yearwood family to recognize an outstanding senior, was given to the class president, Rhett Roberts.

The Monticello Woman's Club scholarship went to Jordana Pope with its scholarship, and Blake Hammock earned the Turtle Cove Women's Club scholarship. Matthew O'Brien earned a four-year scholarship to the University of Alabama.

Dylan Collins and Jordana Pope received the Headmaster's Awards, and Matthew O'Brien and Lauren Mitchell received the Outstanding Senior Boy and Girl awards.

Tanner and Mr. Mitchell McEwen, chairman of the Board of Trustees awarded diplomas to the following students: Nina Calissa Blackshear, Angelia Marie Brown, Dakota Scott Collins, Mary Ashlynn Beth Dennis, Carl Gonsalves-Barreiro, Austen Blake Hammock, Andria Taylor Lewis, Lauren Emily Mitchell, Timothy Alex Palmer, William Tanner Quinn, Rhett Patrick Roberts, Jessie Leigh Wagnon, Michael Andrew Berg, Morgan Mae Brooks, Samuel Arnold Cleary, Dylan Trucker Collins, Courtney Kathryne Dimsdale, Michael Alexander Hall, Dylan Ryley Hedrick, Rachel Rose Maletz, Matthew Augustine O'Brien, Loni Jordana Pope, Garrett Luke Richardson, William Kennon Roberts, and Destiny Jade Walker.