Markeisha Douglas, right, sobs tears of joy as she embraces classmates Christyle Hollis, middle, and Tuccarro Carrington, left, after A.L. Brown High School’s graduation ceremony at the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center. (Greg Kahn / Independent Tribune)
A.L. Brown’s Kevin Cano, left, and Josh Gray, right, joke in the hallways of their high school before the start of their graduation ceremony Friday. (Greg Kahn / Independent Tribune)
“When I saw her come through that door I grabbed her and took off running,” Janice Haynie, right, said as Yasmine Hall showed up to graduation minutes before the opening procession. Hall is the first member of her family to graduate high school according to Haynie. “That is a special young lady right there,” Haynie said. (Greg Kahn / Independent Tribune)