The A.Z. Kelsey Academy family resource center was packed with family, friends and well-wishers Thursday morning as five students graduated from the Griffin-Spalding County School System’s nontraditional high school.

They were Johnathan Akins, Tiffany Crabtree, Katrina Glass, Toneisha James and Krystal Thompson.

It was A.Z. Kelsey Teacher of the Year Tonya Releford who gave the graduates their charge.

“Just because you graduated from high school does not mean that you can quit,” Releford said. “Now is your chance.”

According to A.Z. Kelsey Principal Quimby Melton, the school has now graduated a total of 28 students and he compared their tenacity to that of television character “Mr. T.”

“We recognize that A.Z. Kelsey Academy students may have to work a little harder to earn their diploma.” Melton said. “These students are to be congratulated for having kept up with their work and never given up. Today their dreams came true.”

In this season of multiple graduation exercises, A.Z. Kelsey’s is always a little different. That’s because the graduates are not the only ones receiving recognition. Students who have worked hard and are still a few courses short of graduating are recognized as well as those with perfect and almost-perfect attendance.

A.Z. Kelsey student Monica Rodriguez received the Turtle Award, based on her accomplishment of completing 12 classes in the spring semester.

And, in addition to their diplomas, the graduates were awarded medals and trophies. Each student was also asked to pin one of their parents.

After the ceremony, graduates walked to the school’s “Wall of Fame” and left their handprints for future students to admire.

“This is a special day,” Akins said as he left his handprint on the A.Z. Kelsey Wall of Fame.