May 21, 2026 — As more than 8,700 Cobb Schools seniors walk across the stage to graduate, each student has their own unique path to how they got to this point.
Through the Senior Spotlight campaign, our schools helped highlight the path to graduation through the stories of some of our inspiring graduates. Whether it was overcoming adversity, excelling in the classroom, or going above and beyond to set themselves up for success, this year's Class of 2026 showed what it means to be a Cobb Schools graduate.
Allatoona High School
With a 4.3 GPA, K.J. Gitau has shown tremendous effort and dedication in the classroom despite having to overcome grief during his time at Allatoona.
During his sophomore year, K.J. lost his mother, and instead of letting it derail his goals and schoolwork, he worked even harder.
"I felt like there was this voice in me or something in me that just kept on telling me to keep on moving, keep on smiling, keep on being happy. I went back to my normal self, just pushing myself and all I do and all my classes and all my sports and just being happy and like being that joy that can be in people's lives," said KJ.
K.J. was also a member of the Allatoona basketball and competitive cheer teams, where he served as a role model to his teammates.
In the Fall, K.J. plans to attend Kennesaw State University, where he plans to continue his career in competitive cheer.
To read more about K.J.'s story, click HERE.
Campbell High School
Originally from Nigeria, Glorious Adeleye built a path to success and an example for her younger siblings and family through hard work at Campbell High School.
While serving as a translator for her family, Glorious has excelled in the classroom, as seen in her 4.2 GPA.
She has also been invited to serve as a keynote speaker this summer at the annual AVID National Conference.
"I had an accent and was different, so for me, I had to kind of adapt to a new environment and a new world. But being in Cobb County made it really easy, actually," said Glorious.
After seeing her aunt pass away from breast cancer in Nigeria and watching the care the nurses and doctors treated her with along the way, Glorious decided to pursue a degree in nursing to be that same helping hand and kind presence in the midst of grief to other families.
Glorious will be at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she plans to earn a degree in nursing.
To read more about Glorious and her story, you can click HERE.
Cobb Horizon High School
In 2013, Muhammad Khan and his family moved from Pakistan to Cobb County, where he attended Cobb Schools from kindergarten through his senior year.
Muhammad went from not knowing any English to being proficient and has been an example of success to his family and fellow students.
At Cobb Horizon, he was able to take his classes online and spend more time with his family while completing his senior year.
"It's with honor and pride that I can go around saying, 'I graduated from Cobb County.' It's not like I went somewhere else and then came back. I went through from kindergarten through my senior year being all in Cobb County, and I'm about to go to a great school. Wherever I go, I can tell them I came from Cobb County," said Muhammad.
Muhammad will attend Georgia State University, where he plans to get a degree in finance.
To read more about Muhammad's story, you can click HERE.
Harrison High School
Harris and Colton Akins were both adopted from China at a young age and came to Cobb County. Both having to learn English for the first time, the transition was challenging, but they navigated it bravely.
Harris was also born with Holt-Oram syndrome and finger anomalies, while his brother, Colton, was born without a left hand and with a heart condition that required surgery last year.
"Other students do things different than me, but I can still do better than what they can do," said Colton on how he's overcome adversity and still succeeded.
Colton plans to attend a one-year program after graduation and then enter the workforce, while Harris will attend the University of Georgia.
To read more about Harris and Colton's story, you can click HERE.
Hillgrove High School
Growing up in Chicago, Avery Kelley never imagined that her path would lead to Cobb County, but now she's a proud graduate of Hillgrove High School.
At just 11 years old, she started her own production company, Inspired Melanin, to tell positive stories about underrepresented communities.
"If you encounter Avery, you're going to encounter someone really special. I'm very, very proud of Avery, and I know she's going to go far in life," said Hillgrove's Principal Angela Stewart.
With a 4.0 GPA, Avery is also an anchor for Talon TV, a Coca Cola Foundation Scholar, and a leader both in and outside of the classroom.
As she weighs her college options, Avery plans to pursue a career in filmmaking.
To read more about Avery's story, you can click HERE.
At Hillgrove High School, you won't get far without a teacher or staff member having something great to say about senior Lylah Kilgore.
From dance team and student government to mentoring fellow students, Lylah has a full schedule aimed at creating an even brighter path after high school, but it hasn’t always been easy for her.
In eighth grade, Lylah lost her mom to breast cancer. With her dad living in North Carolina, Lylah lived with her older sister, and the two leaned on each other as she navigated her way through high school.
"Don't let challenges stop you. Don't let a bad thing let you quit because you ultimately are writing your own story, and your life is ultimately what you make it, so live it to the fullest," said Lylah.
Lylah will attend North Carolina A&T State University next year as she continues to inspire and help others in any way she can.
To read more about Lylah's story, you can click HERE.
Kell High School
Before Madison Lindsay walked across the stage and became a Cobb Schools graduate, she already earned a college degree for herself.
Through hard work and determination, she earned her associate degree from Chattahoochee Technical College while still in high school.
"My mom told me that to save us money because she spent a great deal of it on my sister, that she would not be able to afford to pay for my college if I didn't get some type of head start in scholarships and stuff," said Madison.
While most students never decide to take dual enrollment classes, Madison pushed herself to do as much as possible from an early age.
On top of that drive to get a head start on her bright future, she was also a member of the Kell volleyball team and maintained over a 4.1 GPA.
Madison will attend Louisiana State University in the Fall, where she plans to earn multiple degrees in forensic chemistry and forensic pathology.
To read more about Madison's story, you can click HERE.
Kennesaw Mountain High School
As she began her sophomore year, Gheneruno Ekuerhare began feeling more aches and pains than usual and decided to go to the doctor.
Gheneruno was then diagnosed with Lupus and eventually began using a wheelchair to navigate campus to avoid what would have been a painful walk to class every day.
"I cannot let what's happened so far to interfere with what I can do in the future," said the KMHS senior.
Outside of being a standout STEM student, Gheneruno has been involved in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl and math team and serves as president of the Creative Writing Club, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and a tutor for other students
Gheneruno plans to attend California Institute of Technology, where she plans to focus her studies on mathematics.
To read more about Gheneruno's story, you can click HERE.
Lassiter High School
At Lassiter, getting from one class to another is a task most would never think about, but for one student, it has been a daily struggle.
Sonali Limaye, a senior, was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) at an early age, which now causes her to use a walker to navigate campus.
"Even though I have this, I can't let it stop me from succeeding in school," said Limaye.
Sonali is involved in the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, volunteers at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, has completed more than 200 service hours, and is a standout STEM student.
Limaye will attend Georgia Tech next year, where she will major in Biology.
To read more about Sonali's story, you can click HERE.
McEachern High School
For Cayley Windham, McEachern High School is more than just the place where she earned her diploma — it’s part of her family’s story. With deep family ties to the school and community, Cayley has proudly carried on that connection while creating her own legacy through hard work, leadership, and dedication both in the classroom and as a student-athlete.
Balancing academics, athletics, and extracurricular commitments takes discipline, and Cayley has embraced every challenge along the way. Her determination and positive attitude have earned the respect of teammates, teachers, and coaches, while helping her grow into a leader others can look up to. To learn more about Cayley’s story and the impact she’s made at McEachern, read her full Senior Spotlight here.
North Cobb High School
Before ever crossing the graduation stage, senior Chase Quaile has already soared to new heights.
The North Cobb senior has spent countless hours practicing flying at McCollum Airport and earned his pilot's license during his senior year.
"As a student, I've never liked being average. I don't like settling for the average. So, I tried to take as many AP credits as I could, and try to do the best I could in school," said Chase.
While also being a member of the baseball team, Chase posted an impressive 4.65 GPA and was involved in Beta Club, the magnet program, National Honor Society, Model United Nations, DECA, Miracle Club, and is an Eagle Scout.
Chase turned down multiple Ivy League baseball scholarships and will attend Auburn University, where he plans to focus on his passion for flying and his future career.
To read more about Chase's story, you can click HERE.
Osborne High School
Khamiyah Poindexter sees it differently than most on a flag football field. Many times, players will stand at the line of scrimmage surveying the opposing side.
For Khamiyah, the defense is merely an opportunity to overcome, and offensive blockers serve as a reminder of support. This outlook comes from her experience. It’s a result of wins and losses—though the wins are not always reflected on the scoreboard, and the losses have been more profound than a game result.
During her sophomore year, she found out her older sister had unexpectedly passed away in her sleep.
In the midst of grief, she has worked hard to overcome adversity and still be a standout student and athlete on the flag football field.
Khamiyah plans to attend college on a flag football scholarship and is currently deciding where to attend.
To read more about Khamiyah’s story, you can click HERE.
Pebblebrook High School
Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household, Evelyn Pacheco struggled to communicate with her English-speaking teachers but worked hard so she could get the most out of her time at Pebblebrook.
Evelyn is the first person in her family to graduate from high school, marking a proud moment for her and her entire family.
"She is an excellent example of any student who ever doubts whether they can do it or not. You can. Because if Evelyn could do it, everyone can do it too," said Pebblebrook's bilingual school counselor Karen Grannis.
Not only has she succeeded in the classroom, but she's also excelled as a Dual Enrollment student at Chattahoochee Technical College, where she plans to pursue nursing.
To read more about Evelyn's story, you can click HERE.
Pope High School
Noah Marbach, at just 18, started his own AI company based on his own life experiences.
The Pope senior worked multiple service industry jobs and saw the scheduling challenges companies faced, so he created a solution.
Noah created XShift AI to transform a stressful, often inaccurate process into one that can be completed in a matter of seconds.
His company has already garnered attention from publications across the country, and the Pope senior has been featured in several magazines and websites for his innovation.
He said there have already been talks with state leaders and other companies about ways to integrate his company into day-to-day operations to make it easier for people trying to complete staff schedules.
Noah will attend the University of Mississippi next year and will continue to devote much of his time to XShift AI.
To read more about Noah's story, you can click HERE.
South Cobb High School
After losing his mom right before Christmas, senior Gale Thomas has used his own grief to help fellow students in a similar position.
With over a 4.0 GPA, the South Cobb senior is involved in student government, drama club, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy.
"I guess it just shows how determined I am because going through all this stuff, doing all these things. I've still been able to show up in all these different clubs and extracurriculars and organizations, and I feel like that just shows that I've truly left a mark here at South Cobb," said Gale.
Gale will attend Morehouse College next year, where he plans to major in biology and theater.
To read more about Gale's story, you can click HERE.
At South Cobb High School, each student finds their passion and reason why they enjoy coming to school.
For senior Mackenzie Dailey, she's found a love for music and live production through DJ'ing and creating music.
During 9th grade, Mackenzie lost her home to a fire and didn't have a stable home or means to get to and from school every day. On top of that, her dad also passed away which left her grieving on top of having to worry about her schoolwork.
In the midst of overcoming adversity, she still managed to get to school every day and focus on her music classes that brought her so much joy.
"It kept me in school because I know that I would get lost in the music. I have my speakers so loud that I can't even hear my thoughts, but I can hear the beats, I can hear the melody, and I can hear the chords, and that's all that matters. It brought me back to earth. Whenever I would listen to music, and especially in this room, it would also keep me sane," said Mackenzie.
While she never thought college was an option before, with her newfound passion for school, Mackenzie is now weighing her options on what she wants to do moving forward as she works towards her career in music and live production.
To read more about Mackenzie's story, you can click HERE.
Sprayberry High School
McKayla Davis has spent her time at Sprayberry High School proving that success is built through determination, hard work, and perseverance. As a student-athlete, she has balanced the demands of academics and athletics while continuing to push herself to grow both personally and professionally.
As she looks ahead to life after high school, McKayla plans to continue building on the foundation she created at Sprayberry while pursuing new goals and opportunities. Keep reading HERE.
Walton High School
While most students go through the day without worrying about seemingly simple things, such as hearing what a teacher is saying, that luxury is not afforded to senior Cooper Virant.
For as long as he can remember, Cooper has struggled with ADHD and hearing loss. When he was younger, he had hearing aids that eventually stopped working as effectively, so he and his family opted for cochlear implant surgery as a more permanent solution.
"I've had two surgeries while I've been in high school that have taken me out for a long time. Having to claw my way back from all that stuff and having to catch up on all that missed work, missed finals, midterms has been a challenge," said Cooper.
While it hasn't been the easiest path, Cooper's 3.8 GPA is a sign of his ability to succeed despite adversity.
Cooper plans to attend Auburn University after graduation as he continues to try to help others overcome similar challenges he's faced.
To read more about Cooper's story, you can click HERE.
Wheeler High School
For Willma Tchouamou Mbague, putting on her cap and gown will feel a little sweeter after her time in high school was filled with ups and downs.
Before coming to Cobb, Willma was in Boston with her family when they experienced the pain of losing loved ones. So, they decided to start fresh and moved to Cobb County.
While balancing grief and her schoolwork, Willma has found the time to be a part of the Wheeler track team. She is also a violinist in the school's orchestra, SkillsUSA, the French Honor Society, the student government, and the AVID program.
"I will feel like I did it, specifically for my grandma as well. She passed away from cancer a few years ago, so it means a lot to me because she told me to keep going for her because she never had this opportunity," said Willma.
Willma will attend Spelman College in the Fall and plans to earn a degree in risk management and insurance.
To read more about Willma's story, you can click HERE.
Inspiring Seniors Built for Beyond
Cobb Schools’ student-athletes are proving that success goes far beyond competition. From nationally ranked fencers and standout volleyball players to wrestlers and tennis stars, these seniors have balanced athletics, academics, and personal growth while preparing for bright futures beyond graduation.
Campbell High School
Whether in the classroom, on the wrestling mat, or through her artistic talents, Livia Ross has embraced every opportunity to grow and lead. In addition to her athletic and academic success, Livia is also one of Cobb Schools’ three co-valedictorians, earning one of the highest GPAs in the district. Her determination and creativity have made her a standout senior at Campbell High School.
Learn more about this inspiring Cobb valedictorian here.
Harrison High School
Lilah Anderson has made a name for herself both on and off the volleyball court through leadership, dedication, and excellence. Her work ethic and commitment to her teammates have helped set the standard at Harrison High School.
Keep reading here to learn why changing the world is on Lilah’s to-do list.
Kennesaw Mountain High School
Nolen Jarl’s passion for tennis and dedication to improvement have helped shape his success at Kennesaw Mountain High School. His perseverance and love for the sport have inspired those around him.
Find out HERE why Nolen has proven that regardless of what one faces in life, the next point can be better than the last — a mindset that reflects what it truly means to be Built for Beyond.
Pebblebrook High School
Anna Bergstrom has built an uncommon high school journey balancing academics, technical theater, and a nationally competitive equestrian career. The Pebblebrook senior trains nearly every day in hunter jumping, a demanding equestrian discipline that requires precision, focus, and teamwork between rider and horse.
To learn more about Anna’s unique journey from the barn to the theater, read her full Senior Spotlight here.
Pope High School
Joshua Riggins has earned national recognition in fencing while excelling academically at Pope High School. His discipline, focus, and drive have helped him become one of the nation’s top young fencers as he prepares for the next chapter of competition and education.
Click here to find where he is continuing his athletic career thanks to earning a fencing scholarship.
From overcoming adversity and breaking barriers to leading in classrooms, communities, and competition, Cobb Schools’ Class of 2026 is filled with inspiring seniors whose stories prove the future is bright — and they are only getting started. Congratulations!
