By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — It’s that time of year again, as high school seniors across Wake County prepare to receive their diplomas.
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Graduation season kicked off Thursday, with eight ceremonies taking place over the next two days.
“Hey man, this is amazing,” said Randolph Johnson, who just graduated from Wake Early College of Health and Science, “Very surreal to get the diploma, get everything I worked so hard for, have people here to celebrate with me. It feels amazing.”
“I’ve gotten so much experience here, it’s been very hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he added.
Johnson and his classmates are some of the first of nearly 12,500 Wake County seniors who will graduate from now through mid-June.
“I would say resiliency. We know that this class has been through all sorts of budget cuts and uncertainty at the state level. They were probably the first class that hasn’t had a state budget in some time,” Wake Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor said about the graduating class.
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Despite some of those challenges, Taylor says the Class of 2026 has earned nearly $40 million worth of scholarships.
“Our kids are doing great, regardless of the things they have to overcome,” he added.
It was a proud moment for the superintendent.
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“What I say is graduation is the culmination of 13 years of work, so to have the opportunity to see our graduates walk across the stage, this is what we all live for.”
With construction in some areas of downtown Raleigh and traffic concerns, the school district is encouraging families to arrive at least 15 minutes before graduation.
Most schools will be hosting their graduation ceremonies at the Raleigh Convention Center.
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