001One way I don't know What time are youing in the I thought you were playing. Hey, Steve. Steve, put a hat on. see some friends just supporting the cause. Y I'm really nervous about sound right now. Okay. I think I want to go play the piano and see if does it have to come the guy at the performance. picture anyway. [Music] Just don't touch the camera. Well, I think Zack and Alex are Unless you easier this main adjustment. never Ashley yesterday was driving a pothole in the fur. Dixie came. Bye. Down in front, please. Right. I thought you were sitting honestly. We got all start. Did they do her brain show? Now she's saying she doesn't have time if I needed her to ask the time and I said no. I looked it up already.
002That's why I was so So she's actually Dr. Matthew all week. moderate memory loss probably. like she's like all my numbers disappeared from my phone. How are you calling me? What do I do? I don't know, Mom. I was I was in Sorry, I bothered you. You know what? Where do you want it at? Stick with Oh, I think I see her. I think Are you ready? I just I just pick up my audio. I better be really good at that. I'll tell you how not take it appropriate. Okay. So he listen. So he actually 6,000 You got five,000 close to 500 5,000 from 6,000. So like he keeps the CBA. [Music] business. That's perfect. [Music] Sorry. If I touch you, don't jump out of there. [Music] Stand [Music] up. Oh. Heat. Heat. [Music] Okay.
003Patience. That's [Music] right. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] There we [Music] go. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] 2. [Music] [Applause] Good evening. Please remain standing. And gentlemen, remove your caps. I now ask you to join me in saying the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing. At this time, let us pause for a moment of silence to remember our classmates who are not with us tonight. Thank you. You may be seated. Good evening everyone. I am the senior class president Tavin Freeze. I am delighted to welcome you all to the graduation commencement of the class of 2025.
004I want to thank you all for taking time to be here on this special evening to celebrate how far these students have come in their academic journey. I would like to start off by thanking family and friends. Thank you for the constant support and love love for us you have given through our ups and downs. The constant encouragement from those around us helped us overcome the most difficult tasks. To the teachers and staff who poured countless hours into building us into the exquisite humans we are today. Thank you. The love and compassion shown from all of you will be cherished forever. Your gift of patience, guidance, and wisdom is embedded into each of our characters. Finally, I would like to thank the fellow graduates. We may not have all started this journey together, but through
005the laughs, early mornings, and memories made together inside and outside of the building, we have become family to one another. As we prepare to go to our separate paths, I encourage you all to not be strangers. The class of 2025 has a special place in all of our hearts, and we will always be there for one another. Thank you for the positive impact and legacy you will leave behind at Bluffton High School. For those who of you who are willing, please bow your heads with me as I pray for us all. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this special opportunity to gather together and share a special message. We pray that you will lead each of us onto a path that is fulfilling for our souls. Lord, please help us choose kindness over everything
006and look forward to having a positive impact on others individual's life. For every step of our lives, you have been there. I pray that you will continue to lead each of us on the journey we continue to pursue. We praise you. We love you. And we pray these words trusting and believing in you. In your name we pray. Amen. [Applause] Good. Good evening. I am Jackson Afforder, a proud member of the class of 2025. As I come up here, I want to thank the students, staff, and guests who are here with us tonight. I thank you, my fellow classmates, for staying determined and putting in the effort to reach this monumental moment. I thank you teachers and staff for investing your lives into us so that we may be successful in our own lives. I
007thank you family and friends who are here with us today. It's because of your encouragement in our pivotal years of de development that we are able to stand here today. Now, as this will be the last time the class of 2025 will be all together, I think it makes sense to talk about something we've heard every day for the past four years. This will be our last words of wisdom. The words of wisdom I give are six traits that I believe will be pivotal in our following years after graduation. First, be humble. Understand what skills and talents you have and use them. See the value that you have and appreciate it through all situations. Walk into them with the confidence of knowing who you are. Second, be humble with an understanding of the value within
008yourself. Apply that same mindset to those around you. Each person holds a unique combination of talents and abilities that you do and appreciate this and listen to what they have to say. Third, be respectful. Respect shows others that you care. By making simple gestures like making eye contact, shaking your hands, and paying attention, you can make leaps and bounds in the relationships that you have. Demonstrating respect to others shows them that you care about who they are, what they think, and what they have to say. Be intentional. After leaving high school, we're going to have a lot of freedom in what we choose to focus on. I urge you to think about how you're you are investing your time because all things add up over time, good or bad. So, we must be careful how
009we spend it. Be servant. Go serve others. When I say this, I do not necessarily mean go volunteer at a food pantry or any place in particular. I just encourage you to go have a servant's heart. Be loving and kind and just do stuff for those around you that benefit their lives. Lastly, be thankful. Appreciate everything that you have because nothing is promised. Write down a list of things you are thankful for or even speak out loud those things. Find a way to remind yourself of all your blessings. Imprint an attitude of thankfulness in your life. As I wrap up, I want to remind you to be confident, humble, respectful, intentional, servient, and thankful. Thank you for giving me your time and attention. Make it a great life or not, the choice is yours. [Applause]
010[Music] One day I was walking on the beach. The sky was still a storm from night had passed. All along the shore lay thousands of star from their worship able to return to the Lord. Far off I saw a young girl dancing alone. Not [Music] dancing. Tossing helpless starfish back in the rescuing them from the star race. She told me if I don't have them, they will die. Do you s [Music] She said it made a difference to that one. It made a difference to that one. It made a difference to that one just [Music] any place anymore. [Music] Every time, everyone. [Music] [Applause] What you do will make a [Music] difference. A [Applause] Thank you. Hello, my name is Bailey Yates and I'm proud to be a part of the graduating class of 2025.
011Five. Thank you to everyone helping with graduation today, teachers, administrators, staff, and families. And of course, congratulations to the graduating class of 2025. Today, I want to share with you the top seven reasons to avoid graduating. Even though we are all ready to walk across this stage, I came up with seven reasons why some of us might want to turn back. Number seven, you should avoid graduating if you don't want to sit through someone like me droning on in a speech. Let's be honest, validictorian speeches can be a little much, but I can't pass up the chance to brag about how amazing the class of 2025 is. So, if you're hoping to skip this part where I list a bunch of our accomplishments and try to make you cry, too late. You're here and we
012earned this moment. Even if I talk too fast, and stumble over my words once or twice. Number six, you should avoid graduating if you dislike all the fancy clothes, uncomfortable shoes, and silly hats. Caps and gowns are tradition, sure, but no one said they were fashionable. We've gone from light up sneakers and Velcro straps to heels and dress shoes. And honestly, I missed the Velcro. Does anyone else remember kindergarten graduation? Construction paper crowns, glitter everywhere, and probably a few goldfish crackers under our feet. We looked ridiculous then and somehow we still do now. But that's kind of beautiful. We've grown from fingerpainting to final exams, from story time to senior quotes. And even though our hats are still silly, we wear them with pride. Number five, you should avoid graduating if you can't handle a
013little recognition. Because in all honesty, as a class, we've done some pretty amazing things. We've excelled in academics, earned scholarships, passed dual enrollment classes, and a test we never thought we'd survive. We've dominated in sports, set school records, and cheered until we had no voice left. Some of us are going on to college, others to the military, trade schools, or directly into careers. The paths are different, but the ambition is the same. So yeah, if applause makes you uncomfortable, this whole graduating thing might not be for you. Number four, you want to avoid graduating if you're not ready for the future. The future is unknown and that can be terrifying. It means letting go of routines, places, and people who have shaped us. It is a difficult thing to walk away from the teachers and
014staff that have shaped our lives here at Bluffton. Graduating means starting fresh, but it also means opportunity. Whether you're chasing a dream job, traveling, studying, or figuring it out one step at a time, there's so much waiting for us. Some people say high school is the best time of your life. And while these past four years gave us memories we'll never forget, I truly believe our best days are ahead of us. Our teachers, families, and mentors have prepared us to face the world. Now it's our turn to step out, to take risks, to grow. It's cliche, I know, but yes, it really is time to spread our wings. And number three, you should avoid graduating if you're not ready to cry or see other people cry. Let's be real, this day is emotional. We're saying
015goodbye to classmates we've known since we had snack time and recess. We're hugging teachers who pushed us to be better, even when we didn't always appreciate it. We're thanking counselors, coaches, bus drivers, and custodians who made sure we got through more than just our school work. It's okay to feel a little heartbroken today. It just means it all mattered and that we matter to each other. And whether you're voted most likely to succeed or most likely to trip on the stage today, you've made an impact. You've been a role model to someone, maybe even more people than you realize. And part of what made that impact possible was the time we spent together day after day, year after year. Which brings me to number two. You might want to avoid graduating if you're deeply attached
016to your schedule. 7:40 to 240, 5 days a week for four years. We follow the same routine. wake up, get dressed according to the dress code, get to school, rotate through classes, wait for lunch, go home, repeat. But after today, there's no bell schedule, no assigned seat, no one telling you to do your homework or put your phone away. From now on, you set the agenda. You pick the classes or the job or the goals. You design the life you want. That's a big responsibility, but it's also freedom, and I think we're ready for it. And finally, number one, you should avoid graduating if you just want to keep hearing Mr. Baker give the best advice every morning. No one wants to admit it, but we're going to miss those announcements. That daily moment of
017wisdom delivered like clockwork was a reliable spark of encouragement every morning. So for those of us walking across the stage, I'll say it one last time on behalf of all of us. Make it a great day or not. The choice is yours. Thank you, class of 2025. It's been an honor growing up with you, learning beside you, and laughing with you. I don't know what the future holds, but I know that this class is going to change the world, one silly hat at a time. Congratulations. We made it. [Applause] Good evening, class of 2025. I'd like to share a story with you this evening. One day, a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking up and gently throwing objects into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "Young man, what
018are you doing?" Well, the boy replied, "I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, the surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die." The man laughed and said, "Son, do you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make any difference." After listening politely, the boy bent down, pick up another starfish, looked at it, and threw it back into the ocean. Then he smiled at the man and said,"I made a difference to that one." The reason I tell you that starfish story, which if I may pause for a minute, that starfish story, our choir teacher, Miss Garri, put to a song, an original song created by Miss Garri and sang by our choir students for
019our special evening together, The Starfish Story. Thank you, Miss Garri, and choir for such a great song. But the reason I tell you that starfish story is because it will help you answer two of life's most important questions. Who am I? And why am I here? You're going to have to answer those questions at some point in your life. And to help you, there's a gift waiting for you under your seat. Go ahead. You can get your gift. The starfish pen that you are holding and the story that goes along with it that I just shared with you is what I gave to the teachers of Bluffton High School 26 years ago on my first day of principal. I now give it to you on my last day. The message has not changed. Make a
020difference. Make your life count. That is why I have worn a starfish every day for the past 26 years. Jane Goodall says it best. What you do makes a difference. You have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. You know, people always want to know if they're being successful in life in everything that they do. The problem is that success can be defined in many different ways. In fact, too many people equate happiness with success. Unfortunately, those people are often disappointed. I believe if you make a positive difference in some person's life, then you are a success. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It's to be useful, honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Well,
021let's go back to our two questions. Who am I? And why am I here? If you don't find the answer to those questions, somebody will answer them for you. Those questions are too important to let that happen. Mark Twain knew how important those questions are. He said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." Well, one of those days has already occurred. It was your birthday. Now, it's time to find out why you were born. It's time for you to make a difference. But you may say, "Mr. Baker, I don't even know where to begin." So, let the starfish remind you that if you make a positive difference in just one person's life, then your time on this earth has not been
022wasted. You see, when you peel back the money and the possessions and the social media, all that really matters is what you did with your life. Choose to make a difference. Choose to make this place better than when you found it. John Gordon addresses this by saying, "Life isn't about money. It's about people, commitment, loyalty, relationships. In the end, we won't be measured by our bank account, our sales numbers, our wins and losses, but by the difference we make in the lives of others. Class of 2025, do something with your life that matters. Make a positive difference in someone's life. It's just that simple. The good news is that you're graduating from one of the best high schools in the state of Indiana. Our school was named a four-star school five times in eight years.
023This is the highest award given by the Indiana Department of Education. Blumpton High School has also earned an Agrade from the Indiana Department of Education for many years. This is the highest grade awarded by the state. Blton High School is recognized as one of the best high schools in the state of Indiana thanks to you. I have personally watched the class of 2025 go out of your way to be kind to others who needed it. Whether it's in the cafeteria, the hallways, the classrooms, or your giving spirit for uh the giving spirit for Riley's Children Hospital, you were intentional with your compassion for others. I guess what I'm trying to say, you've already made a great start down that path of making a positive difference. Graduates of 2025, I want you to know it has
024truly been an honor to be your principal. I am proud of each and every one of you and I want you to know that I believe in you. Four years ago, this group seniors met with me when they were freshman in the cafeterium first week of school. Remember that? Four years ago, you began your high school career. On that day, we committed to each other that every single student who spent four years at Bluffton High School would graduate together on this day. They signed a pledge that's represented on the banner over my right shoulder. Class 2025, thank you for keeping your commitment. You made it. In fact, not only did you meet make your commitment, but you will be the third graduating class in a row that has achieved a 100% graduation rate. That is
025a great achievement. It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, if that's true, then it must take a village of educators to prepare a student for this special day. Will the staff of Bluffton Harrison Elementary School please stand and remain standing? Will the staff of Bluffton Harrison Middle School please stand? Will the staff of Bluffton High School please stand? Will all past Bluffton High School graduates please stand? And finally, will the parents of the graduating class of 2025 please stand? Second. Thank you. You may be seated. I want to thank you, the partners in education, for your dedication, your hard work, and commitment in having helping the class of 2025 successfully complete their high school education. Our message tonight to the class of 2025 is to make a positive difference
026with their lives. Well, community of Bluffton High School, you are looking at tangible results of you making a positive difference into the lives of our young people. You have made a positive difference in the class of 2025. Thank you. Dr. Yates and board members, Mr. Carr, Mr. Murray, Mrs. Sheets, Mrs. Thompson, and Mr. White, it is my pleasure to certify that the class of 2025 has completed all the requirements for graduation as prescribed by the state of Indiana and the Bluffton Harrison Board of School Trustees. At this time, the class of 2025 should be presented their diplomas. Graduates, on behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to congratulate all of you and wish you well in your future endeavors. If I may take a moment before we distribute the diplomas, I'd like to speak
027to the guests of the class of 2025. It has become a tradition that the commencement of Bluton High School be conducted in a manner in which the graduates and their guests can be proud. This pride can be shown by honoring the request of the class of 2025 that the audience please refrain from actions and sounds which will distract from the dignity of the commencement program. I am asking on behalf of the graduates tonight that guests do not yell or make other inappropriate noises while the seniors are receiving their diplomas. The students have agreed to this expectation and I am now asking the adults to do the same as well. We want to acknowledge each student equally for their accomplishments and ask that the audience wait until all students have received their diplomas before congratulating the
028class of 2025. Thank you for honoring that request. Will the first row of the graduating class of 2025 please rise and come forward for your diplomas? Bailey Lynn Yates, Tavin Lee [Music] Freeze, Lillian Ian Marie Shriber, Dne Keith [Music] Schlaggenhoff, Addison Lynn Goodwin, Draven Matthew Shoemaker, Tresa Aubrey Rener, Dion [Music] Bennady, Adriana Nicole Huffman, Samuel Jack Lee Holloway, Marley Ellison, Dreer, Lucas Charles Yates, Laney Isabelle Sawyer, Mylo Artimovic, Lashvkin, Hadesa May Jurgler, Caleb Scott Daniel Green, Brianna Elaine Snyder, David Wesley Frettinger, Anthony Thomas Hartman, Jackson Lee Affolder Logan Archer Zone Carissa Lynn Huitt Wyatt James keartana Rose Petty Sakra Nicholas Powell Haley Irma Bozart, Dylan Luther Kutshaw, Carly Rasher Hartman, Nolan James Lambert, Marin Elizabeth Shriber, Cade Fiser, Abbott, Catalina Ina Marissa [Music] Panco, Matthew Ryan Clark, Leah K. Brown, Pearson James Morgan. Good job.
029Hannah Lee Humphrey, Lornie Indiana, Caleb Khan, McKenna Sue Bunch, Muhammad Immad, Ishmamail Nashwan, Madison Marie Sonicsen, Alli Michelle Migrant, Kyler Allen Potter, Carly Rose Anderson, Jack Campbell, Tiffany Rose Lanning, Connor Wilhelm Clemens, Avery Marie Hunt, Levi Michael Johns, Maline Katherine Shanks, Jude Thomas Bombgardner, Lexi Grace Grady, Tanner James [Music] Mccclur, Elisia Ryan Herata, Jaden Daniel Hummer, Macy Anne Bwater, Gabriel Evan Ball, Gabriella Marie Godwin, Mason James Ellis, Miranda Msias Guadorama, Griffin Phillip Linderwell, Cameron David Williams, Yami Relis, Santos, Avarado, Connor Allen Kloffenstein, Kina Haven, [Music] Blandon, Austin James Gimer, Chloe Renee Bredmire, Gordon Lee Bedwell, Exia Lou Driscoll, Dakota Belle, Jennings, Chloe Madison, Engel, Grant Samuel, Rystick, Alexis, Paige, Brienne, Bucky, Brady Andrew Baldoff, Isabella Kurles, Jordan Douglas Fear, Sierra Sarah Danielle Graham, Daniel Boddenheimer, Aubrey Elizabeth Williamson, Brett William Koulenbeck, Isabella Anne Stout, Cohen
030Michael Worooster, Kain Nathaniel Robinson, Taylor Lynn Newsbomber, Jared Evan Makavoy, Lily Grace Anne Crispen, Austin Dean Coons, Ethan Michael Wilson, Benjamin Zion Maghard, Amara Bell Robels, Dante Montes Miles, Caitlyn Jane Anne [Music] Sills, Phoenix Graham Cook, No. Emmy [Applause] Royale, Tyler P. Beer, Corbin J. [Applause] Trigg, William Corbin [Applause] Startler, Ashlin Rose an Hall. [Applause] Graduates of the year 2025, please stand and be recognized. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Oh yeah. Graduates of the year 2025. I may go with my time. [Applause] You are about to become a part of a very proud and rich tradition at Bluton High School. You will join approximately 11,600 other graduates and will become the 143rd graduating class of Bluton High School. By turning your tassels from right to left, you are symbolizing the
031completion of one phase of your lives and the start of another. You may now turn your [Applause] tassels. Graduates of the year 2025. May you have the hindsight to know where you have been, the foresight to know where you are going. May you have a host of friends. It never ends. And may God protect you and bless you always. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time I'd like to present to you the class of 2025. Congratulations and good luck. [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Go. Go. I got you. [Music] Nice job. Appreciate that. Actually, are you [Music] saying no? [Music] Game word like