James Clemens graduates at Von Braun Center

James Clemens graduates sit through the hour-and-a-half commencement ceremony at the Von Braun Center.

By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter

The 257 James Clemens Jets who received their diplomas Monday afternoon at the Von Braun Center was the last class to choose to attend the school, which opened in 2012.

That fact was both acknowledged and celebrated by those who spoke at the ceremony, including board president of Madison City Schools Ray White.

“When you came to James Clemens, you chose to go here. Whether you realize it or not, you have a lot in common with the man, James Clemens,” White said, referring to one of Huntsville’s early settlers of whom the school owes its namesake.

White remarked that the original Clemens was a trailblazer as well, going against the grain in the antebellum Deep South.

The student speakers, valedictorian Lakshmi Subramani and salutatorian Katrina Avery, held much the same tone in their speeches, touting the young school’s accomplishments.

Subramani mentioned James Clemens’ national champion cheerleading team and the basketball and soccer teams’ victories over Bob Jones, the school in which the Clemens graduates spent the first two years of high school.

“Jet life until the next life,” Subramani said.

After the ceremony, however, it was a striking mix of emotions for Subramani, who is set to attend UAB in the fall.

“It feels kind of good and kind of sad at the same time,” said Subramani, who has already been accepted to the university’s medical school and aims to become a pediatrician after college.

After the black-robed students walked across the stage and received their diplomas, senior class president Manuel Rivera gave one final speech before cutting loose the students’ educational ties to the city of Madison.