Dawson County High School will bid farewell this weekend to the class of 2009.

Set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the graduation ceremony will be held in the football stadium on campus.

"I am very proud of this class," said Principal Wayne Chelf. "It has been a tough year for them and they have been through some heartache, but they have all still come out on top."

Chelf noted that the class has set some academic records and has been active athletically and academically.

According to Chelf, this year's graduates are going far and wide in their college careers.

"There are some great leaders in this class that will be greatly missed," he said.

Superintendent Nicky Gilleland is equally as proud.

"They are a great group of kids who have a tremendous amount of potential," he said. "They have accomplished a lot, and they all have bright futures ahead of them."

Baccalaureate services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church Dawsonville.

E-mail Elizabeth Hamilton at elizabeth@dawsonnews.com.