Tasca McHenry-Tolson cries tears of joy as she hugs her son, Battle High School wide receiver Quetin McHenry, in celebration after the team defeated Ladue Horton Watkins 34-6 in the playoffs semifinals during a home game on Nov. 22, 2014. "He's so good. I'm so happy. He's a senior," McHenry-…
The Battle High School Spartans hoist the Class 5 Missouri State Football Championship trophy after defeating Nixa High School 25-22 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Nov. 28, 2014.
Battle High players Kole Hinton, left, and Jacob Biddle share an emotional moment after winning the MSHSAA Class 5A state championship football game against Nixa High School 25-22 on Nov. 28, 2014.
Nakyia Johnson, right, and Qua Robinson prepare dishes for cooking on June 6, 2013, at Battle High School. Students wanting to earn a practical arts and health credit before starting high school enrolled in Becky Baugh's Freshman Academy class, where they learned to cook as part of the class…
Ashley Popham and Jason McCloud are the first two graduates of Battle High School. The two students graduated in May 2014 after completing credits early.
Kim Presko, principal, takes a photo of the construction in Muriel Williams Battle High School the morning of Sept. 28, 2012. During construction, Presko visited the school every few weeks to see the progress of the school's construction and shared photos with incoming parents.
Future Battle High students enter Muriel Williams Battle High School for the first time the morning April 16, 2013. The Rock Bridge and Hickman students were given tours of the campus and will be the first ever graduating class from the new school.
Eliot Battle, center, introduces his great-granddaughter, Alexis Muriel Battle, 9, right, to a long-time friend, Anita Chaplick, left, at the dedication ceremony reception June 2, 2013, at Battle High School. The high school was dedicated to Battle's wife, Muriel Williams Battle.
Future students, parents, teachers and members of the community attended a ceremony to dedicate the new Battle High School on June 2, 2013. The high school was dedicated to Muriel Williams Battle, a pioneer in desegregation of Columbia schools.
Amanda Klenke prepares RealCare Babies for her child development classes this upcoming school year on June 3, 2013, at Battle High School. The babies are educational tools that will help students learn the difficulties of caring for children by crying at all hours until needs for feeding, bu…
Jody Spriggs looks at negatives on the first roll of film to be developed using the school's new equipment on Aug. 12, 2013 at Battle High School.
Battle juniors Julian Montano, left, and Tyra Brisco, 16, kiss Oct. 19, 2013, at Battle High School's Homecoming dance.
Zeontrez Marshall puts his helmet on during evening practice at Battle High School on Aug. 23, 2013. Marshall had both "RIP" and "TRE" shaved into his hair in remembrance of his cousin Tre'Veon Marshall who was killed this summer in a shooting. Zeontrez Marshall is a freshman linebacker at B…
Grace Hodson crowns Eli White as the first Battle High School Courtwarming King on Feb. 15, 2014. White was congratulated by his fellow court king nominees before leading the students into their next dance.
Rachel Bennnett, an assistant principal at Battle High School, became involved in education to try to influence as many lives as possible. She had a stroke in her 30s, a life event that made her passionate about helping students.
The Battle High School cheerleaders perform during an assembly in honor of the football team winning the Class 5, District 4 title in the playoffs on Oct. 13, 2014.
Battle High School's first trophy sits in the school's case. The Battle varsity cheerleaders received first place at the regional cheerleading competition held at Moberly Area Community College in July 2013.
Battle High School marching band wind members warm up on their instruments during practice before school on Oct. 8, 2013.
Juniors Malik Townsend and Jaevon McQuitty compare schedules during Rebecca Wilmes' physics class at Battle High School on Aug. 20, 2013, the first day the school was open for classes. Physics was the first class of the semester for Townsend and McQuitty.
Sgt. Wyatt Siegrist, left, and Stephanie Barnette dress as Spartan mascots while students walk into their first day of school on Aug. 20, 2013, at Muriel Williams Battle High. "That's the cool thing about it; I will be the first Spartan here. Ever," Siegrist said. Mike Korman, whose sister D…
Two years ago, Battle High School opened as the fourth high school in Columbia. Missourian photographers and videographers have followed the first graduating class since the school opened. As the seniors graduate this weekend, the Missourian compiled past coverage and new interviews in this package. Find interviews of seniors below and view past coverage at the links below.
Videography by Shelby Kardell and Tim Tai.
Supervising editors are Brian Kratzer and T.J. Thomson.