Adele Erickson imparted some advice from a fortune cookie to her fellow Lawrence High School graduates: “One must look back to learn to look forward.”
The Class of 2025 was on the same football field for commencement Tuesday that they were on during freshman orientation four years ago, Erickson reminisced in her speech.
Evolving from the anxiety of entering high school back then to the excitement of graduating now makes her certain she and her classmates will be OK in the future.
“The future may seem scary, but it is filled with opportunities,” Erickson said. “It is now up to us to see how we want to change our lives and how we want to change the world.”
During LHS’ 151st commencement ceremony Wednesday evening, 330 graduates, including 23 valedictorians, were recognized. Senior members of the LHS Chorale sang the national anthem and their school alma mater to start.
Like Erickson, Trent Blettner encouraged his fellow graduates to pave their own paths. He said he can’t predict the next four years but that a changing world is inevitable. LHS helped prepare him by showing how to apply academic concepts to life situations, he said.
Superintendent Jeanice Swift commended the Class of 2025 for navigating challenges, including novel concepts of wearing masks and social distancing during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said graduating students are leaving the district as “bright lights” who have shown “remarkable strength and perseverance.”
The graduating class voted to give Citizenship Awards to Ava Kohart and Thomas Sikes, recognizing their classmates for showing respect, responsibility, inclusivity and good sportsmanship in school and the community. Students voted Silvia Oparaji as Citizen of the Year.
The graduating class also voted Marci Leuschen as the 2025 LHS Teacher of the Year.
Teachers Dwayne Dunn, Brittany Harrell, Tracy Murray, Julie Oswald and Valerie Schwag read the names of the graduates, assisting Swift, who presented diplomas.
Class valedictorians were honored with gold medallions for achieving perfect GPAs: Rose Allgeier, Blettner, Isis Cross, Sean Dixon, Erickson, Lydia Folks, Hannah Jenicke, Molly Kelly, Zana Kennedy, Kohart, Josh Lavin, Jacob Leonard, Hayden Mock, Olivia Monroe, Oparaji, Elliot Paden, Elise Rathmel, Connor Rayome, Channing Saint Onge, Sikes, Ty Silvers, Kaden Valbuena and Giulia Ventello.
Here’s a list of scholarships awarded on Senior Night and self-reported by the graduates, provided by the district:
LHS-scholarships
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
More coverage: Graduation 2025
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