On Friday, June 20, the Byron-Bergen Class of 2025 bid their high school days farewell and officially joined the ranks of esteemed alumni. With recurring themes of hard work and gratitude, Principal Paul Hazard and Superintendent Pat McGee both commended the graduates on their grinding work ethic and encouraged them to be thankful for the support and opportunities provided by their families and community. On the same themes, Valedictorian Jackson Lundfelt emboldened his classmates to be confident to the point of delusion and Salutatorian Rose Wilson inspired them to create a habit of gratitude. These sentiments were also echoed throughout the evening by the Singing Silhouettes and several award presenters.
Master of Ceremonies and College and Career Counselor Rob Kaercher opened the evening by introducing Jr./Sr. High School Principal Paul Hazard. Hazard addressed the almost 70 graduates and thanked them for their lessons to him, assuring them that their legacy is one of “a collective powerhouse that is destined for greatness.” Superintendent McGee followed that sentiment by adding that he had seen these graduates show “maturity, determination, kindness, grit, humor, a little sass, a lot of heart, and a great work ethic among other amazing qualities.”
Salutatorian Rose Wilson then took to the stage reminding the graduates and audience that “gratitude is a skill you can develop just by noticing the small things that you can be grateful for, every day.” Wilson was followed by graduating Singing Silhouettes Deborah Catalino, Abigail Cook, Arianne McLaughlin, Roman Smith, and Jade Wolff who, fittingly, joined voices to perform ABBA’s classic hit, “Thank You for the Music.”
Valedictorian Jackson Lundfelt closed out the speeches for the evening by thanking his family and friends and sharing the philosophy of Yasheen Abdalla, an Olympic marathoner from Sudan. Lundfelt quoted her as saying, “You have to be so confident in yourself that people think you’re delusional.” In his own words, he added, “Whatever you do, no matter your next step, walk into it with confidence, even the kind that feels a little delusional at times. You are capable of whatever you set your mind to… Life isn’t about achieving a cookie cutter version of success, it is defined by each one of you in your own unique way.”
The ceremony drew to a close with the conferring of diplomas by Board of Education President Debra List. Each graduate strode, flipped, or selfied their way across the stage with confidence and gratitude. After the singing of the alma mater, the Class of 2025 departed from the Soccer Stadium to begin their next adventure.
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Photos by Gretchen Spittler
