Three and a half years into his high school career, junior Austin Craymer is finally cancer free.

“I took my last chemo pill on New Year’s day,” Craymer said. “It doesn’t feel real, but I know it’s going to be for the better.”

To help Craymer celebrate conquering cancer, biology teacher Katy Walters held a surprise party in the LGI, complete with pizza, soda and cookies. Students from every grade level filled the room to congratulate Craymer.

“It was really nice to see all the people that showed up for him,” junior Lex Hook said. “They were all people he had an impact on at some point or had become friends with.”

Walters and Craymer are very close, and he stops in her classroom to visit her multiple times a day. As soon as Walters found out he was finishing treatments, she knew she had to do something.

“We love him,” Walters said. “Lots of people love him. This is a huge deal, his entire high school career he’s had treatment and now he doesn’t and so I think we should celebrate that.”