The first ever graduating class of Northwest Falcons have left the nest.
Lincoln Northwest High School opened their doors in Fall of 2022 to classes of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors — but no seniors.
Those juniors became seniors, and over the weekend became the recipients of the school’s inaugural graduation diplomas as class of 2024.
The group of 155 students walked across the stage Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena, making it official in purple caps and gowns — the only school sporting the color in the district.
Principal of NWH Cedric Cooper applauds his first class of alumni. (Courtesy: Lincoln Public Schools)
“I definitely have a sense of pride,” Northwest High School Principal Cedric Cooper told KLIN News, prior to the big day. “It’s been really nice to help identify our school culture from the ground up… There’s not a lot of people that have an opportunity to lead and be the first of a graduating class of a school.”
Cooper described the culture of Northwest High as one of “acceptance.”
“We really have a community feel in our school,” he said. “Our kids know this is a non-judgmental zone, and really feel excited about coming into our environment which is so diverse, not only in our student population, but also in our staff. ”
With the start of any new high school, the first wave of non-freshman students were transfers from schools and friends they were already accustomed to. Because of this, Cooper said Northwest High School needed to be “very adaptable.”
“We had students coming from various schools around the district and some from the smaller towns around Lincoln,” he said. “But now we’re starting to create our own identity, as ‘Falcons,’ and we’re starting to come into our own as a school and as a student body.”
The falcon mascot and school colors of purple, white, and gray were chosen via vote by the students and families of Arnold and Roper elementary schools, and Park and Schoo middle schools in 2021. The logo features the bird sporting a pair of aviator goggles, in reference to the nearby Air Park community.
Bringing students from different walks of life together under the collective “falcon” identity, in a freshly constructed building, presented a fair share of challenges. Cooper says it takes time to mold into being your identity as a new school.
“We’re just starting to overcome the obstacles and challenges of being in a new building, all the newness of getting used to this space,” he reflected. “…and now we’re realizing the potential in Northwest High School.”
With the first class of graduates behind them, Northwest High’s administrative staff is in the process of going over a school improvement plan for next year.
“We’re going to sit down as a leadership team, and with some of our teachers, to take a look at our data. Then we’ll start to look at what we need to change in the next school year — in terms of just student achievement and daily classroom activities,” Cooper added.
Confetti showers the first NWH graduates, eager for their future. (Courtesy: Lincoln Public Schools)