Larry McCoy Field at Athens Stadium was the setting for the Class of 2025’s Senior Sunrise event, a yearly tradition that officially kicked off the beginning of the end for the seniors at Athens High School.

Droves of students — with blankets in hand — gathered together in the early morning at the school’s stadium on Friday, Aug. 9, to celebrate their last first few days of school.

Many seniors huddled together in groups — just as athletes do on Friday nights in the fall. Except this time, the students sat on the turf field and looked up to the sky to watch the night turn into an array of colors as the sun crept over the horizon in the morning sky.

The event is symbolic in its nature, as in just a few months those same students will hopefully all return back to Athens Stadium to conclude their academic journey as they walk across the stage for their graduation.

To see more pictures from the annual event, visit Athens High School’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AHSAlabama/.