Watch the World's First Surviving Septuplets Graduate High School

On November 19, 1997, Des Moines, Iowa couple Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey gave birth to the world’s first surviving set of septuplets—four boys and three girls. Now, they’re all grown up. Last Sunday, the siblings received their high school diplomas at the Carlisle High School Class of 2016’s graduating ceremony, The Des Moines Register reports.

The McCaughey septuplets arrived nine weeks premature, and ranged in weight from 2 pounds, 5 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Since they were conceived with the help of fertility drugs, their birth spurred public debate about the ethics of high-risk multiple pregnancies. However, the McCaugheys still received substantial public support, and were gifted with a lifetime supply of diapers and a new home.

Despite a rocky start to life, Alexis, Brandon, Joel, Kelsey, Kenny, Natalie, and Nathan survived—and later thrived. During their high school years, the siblings participated in extracurricular activities like band and sports. Two of the sisters, Alexis and Natalie, belonged to the National Honor Society.

Now that the McCaugheys have finished secondary school, they're ready to pursue their adult vocations. According to KCCI-TV, the septuplets are set to take on college, work life, and military careers. Two of them intend to enroll at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Missouri, where the children were promised a free college education.

Watch the McCaughey siblings toss their tasseled caps in the video above, courtesy of ABC News.

[h/t The Des Moines Register]

Banner image courtesy of iStock.