PINETOWN — Northside High School’s Class of 2015 gathered at the school’s auditorium to celebrate one of the biggest milestones in education — graduation.

Receiving a cumulative total of over $617,000 in scholarship money, a total $200,000 greater than earned by last year’s class, 101 seniors left the school with diplomas, embarking out into the world.

Leading this year’s graduating class were salutatorian Kelsey Lang and valedictorian Savannah Bunn. Bunn gave comments, thanking those that had inspired and pushed the class to succeed and encouraged her classmates to do the same.

“We all have at least one person that caused us to reach this accomplishment,” Bunn said during the speech. “Be that person for someone else. You might have been already, whether you realize it or not, and that’s amazing. Be the positive influence on your sibling, your friend, your neighbor, your coworker, the random stranger. Everyone talks about changing the world, but this can actually be accomplished. By changing the lives of one person, they will in turn change the lives of others. Class of 2015, if we strive to impact someone’s life like our lives have been impacted by others, we truly can change the world.”

Twenty-six percent of this year’s graduates will go on to four-year universities and colleges, and 66 percent will enroll in community colleges. Of the remaining graduates, four percent will enlist in the United State military, three percent will join the workforce and three percent are undecided, according to statistics from NHS Principal Charles Clark.

“The 2015 graduating class of Northside High School is full of future stories of success,” Clark said. “The faculty and staff could not be more proud of the accomplishments that these young people have achieved over the last four years. For me, personally, it is bittersweet to see this class go, as I have been with many of them for the last eight years, and they are a wonderful group of young people that have worked extremely hard to reach this milestone in their lives.

“The faculty and staff at NHS have done a tremendous job of preparing these young adults for the ‘real world,’ and the students will be successful because of the support they have received from their families and the school. I have no doubt that these young people will make a positive impact on the world, and I look forward to hearing about the numerous achievements that these graduates will surely accomplish.”

To view a gallery of NHS graduation photos, visit www.thewashingtondailynews.com and follow the “Photo Galleries” link under the “News” menu.