Harpeth High School celebrates 102 graduates

Harpeth High School (HHS) recognized the 102 graduates in its class of 2025 on the evening of Thursday, May 22 under the lights of their very own football field. 

Nearly half of this year’s graduates completed their high school career with an honors distinction. 

The class of 2025 is the second in the history of HHS to graduate with this honors distinction. The tradition began last year. To receive an honors distinction, the students had to have a GPA above 3.0 and two of the following: a 95% attendance rate; 30 hours of community service; or four years of an extracurricular activity. 

The senior class had a total of 2,204 service hours, with 26 students totaling more than 40 hours each. 

Eleven students graduated with honors distinction cum laude, with a GPA of 3.0-3.49; 25 were dubbed magna cum laude, maintaining a 3.5-3.79 GPA; and 25 students received the highest ranking honors, summa cum laude, with a 3.8-4.0 GPA. 

The graduating class of 102 students racked up 372 hours of college credit and 39 hours of AP credit; signed five student athletes to colleges and saw one senior go to the TSSAA state tournament for track.  

Two seniors made a 30 or higher on their ACT and 22 seniors received industry certifications. Two seniors will be enlisting in the United States Air Force. 

HHS Principal Lee Rector recognized two long-time teachers who will be retiring this year – Kyla Arrington and Doug Loope – alongside the school’s SRO, Phil Curran. 

“Law enforcement and education are professions that come with tremendous stress and great responsibility,” Rector said. “Each of you gave your time, energy, love and sometimes tears to the students in this county. Phil, Kyla and Doug Harpeth High School and Cheatham County owe you a huge thank you.”

The ceremony included two musical performances from seniors Maddie Holley, who sang “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus, with classmate Charlie Wilson on the guitar and Taylor Wood who performed “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. 

Upon earning the highest honors distinction, Sam Lawless was chosen by his peers out of the other 24 summa cum laude students to speak at the ceremony.

During his time at HHS, Lawless maintained a 3.9 GPA; graduated with 12 college hours; served as the class vice president all four years; was a member of Harpeth Band Pep Club; National Honor Society; Harpeth Band of Blue; Harpeth Theatre and Student Council. 

In the fall, Lawless will attend Middle Tennessee State University and plans to major in psychology with a minor in theatre. 

Lawless left his classmates with one final message: embrace the uncertainty. 

“Uncertainty shouldn’t be seen as a threat, but as an invitation. An invitation to build a life that's yours, an invitation to an authentic life in which you take the risk,” Lawless said. 

Senior class President Caroline Fergueson was presented with the Harpeth Way Award. The annual award is presented to an outstanding senior who demonstrates the true Harpeth spirit. 

After the 102 seniors walked across the stage and received their diplomas, senior Charlie Wilson concluded the ceremony with Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.”

With that, the class of 2025 left the field and entered the next chapter of their lives to the tune of Billy Joel’s hit song, “Vienna.”

All photos by Chris Tenpenny