What began years ago as a simple gesture to welcome new kindergarteners has come to represent something much bigger for Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS). Each year, kindergarteners receive a special âClass ofâ T-shirt that symbolizes the beginning of their journey in Henderson County Public Schools. However, the Class of 2026 missed this tradition years ago, so HCPS found the perfect way to make it up to them.
With the help of local sponsors, HCPS presented every senior with a special T-shirt celebrating their upcoming graduation. The moment was about more than a shirt; it was about recognizing the years of hard work, the friendships formed, and the sense of belonging that ties every HCPS student together.
Student leaders from all six high schools collaborated to design the Class of 2026 shirts, ensuring the design captured their collective spirit. Seeing students from across the district work together reflected the heart of HCPS, where every graduate shares a common beginning and a shared destination.
âTraditions like this remind our students that they are part of something lasting,â said Mark R. Garrett, HCPS Superintendent. âIt connects the excitement of their first days in school to the milestone of graduation and everything theyâve accomplished in between.â
This special gift was made possible by generous community sponsors: Blue Ridge Community College, the Henderson County Sheriffâs Office STAR program, Hendersonville Family Dental, Mills River Family Dental, Echo Hill Flower Farm, Northwestern Mutual, the Henderson County Education Foundation, and 1st Choice Graphics.
Together, these partners helped ensure that the Class of 2026 could proudly wear a symbol of their journey from the first day of kindergarten to their final walk across the graduation stage.
