001[Music] Oh my god. You ready for butter? Ready for [Music] Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Get One, two, one, two, [Music] three, Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Okay, this is going to suck. Nice. Jump in. 2 1 2 6 [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Fireball. Fireball. Hurry. [Music] with no friends to mention. Take the time to tell them about this wonderful invention of love. If you find someone in need of some direction, you lead them out of a bad situation. You'll find out why I'm talking about this wonderful invention of love. Love can tear [Music] down heart. [Music] inventionful. If someone has a problem without a solution,
002they say they can't take any more confusion. When they call for help, that's the time to share this wonderful tear down. [Music] Clear set [Music] free. Open your hearts and show the world invention. Wonderful. [Music] Wonderful invention. Wonderful invention. Wonderful [Music] invention. Set a trouble heart free. [Music] This wonderful invention of [Music] love tear [Music] set heart [Music] free invention. Wonderful invention. Wonderful invention of love. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Break down break down. [Music] [Applause] At least we got [Music] Thank you. [Applause] Let's go. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] right there. Hallelujah. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Woohoo! Woohoo! [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Wow. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I don't know. Hallelujah. [Applause] [Music]
003[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Good afternoon, fellow students, faculty, family, and friends, and welcome to the 2025 Eagle River High School graduation ceremony. We acknowledge that we gather here today on the traditional lands of the Denina people of Upper Cook Inlet. For thousands of years, the Denina people have been and continue to be stewards of this land. ASD is committed to diversity and inclusion and is with honor and respect that we recognize all indigenous people who live and learn in our community. Thank you. Please rise and remove all headgear for the presentation of the colors by the Eagle River High School Air Force Junior ROC color guard. The color guard includes Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Kelsey Barrett, Cadet Master Sergeant R.J. Gradanis, Cadet Second Lieutenant Aiden Counz, and Color Guard Commander
004Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Maline Rancort. The Eagle River High School Swing Choir will perform the national anthem. Please remain standing until the colors have left the floor. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming whose stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. Or the parts we watch were so gallently streaming. And the rockets red glare. The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet? For the land of the free and the home of the of the brave. [Applause] Thank you. You may be seated. My name is Lillian Hunter, senior class president, and I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to be your master of ceremonies this afternoon. To
005begin, I would like to take a moment to introduce and welcome this afternoon's guest. Superintendent Dr. Jarrett Bryant, school board member Mr. Pat Higgins, as well as Eagle Rivers administration, Assistant Principal, Miss Jackie Larson, Assistant Principal, Mr. Russ Russell Sherliff, Miss Jennifer Berts, and last but not least, our very own head principal, Mr. Tim Helby. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all of family and friends joining us tonight, both in person and afar. And of course, last but not least, all of you, class of 2025. This ceremony is about each graduate. So, let's get started so we can honor and celebrate your long anticipated accomplishments this afternoon. One of my many honors is to introduce our speakers. The first speaker this afternoon is representing our class validictorians. For the first time
006in a very long time, we had co- validictorians. Both of these students have the same GPA down to four decimal points of 4.3415. Eli Rump and Cole Smith. Eli Rump was a part of our state championship swim team and will be attending the United States Coastg Guard Academy studying environmental science. Cole Smith has served as our president of Eagle River National Honor Society and participated in varsity tennis, hockey, and baseball. He plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy to study astronomical engineering and physics. This afternoon, Cole Smith will be speaking on the behalf of both of them. Please welcome Cole Smith. Thank you, Lily. Imagine yourself transported from this moment of graduation to your place of peace. Perhaps you are lying in a field, sitting underneath the stars, gazing at the wonders above.
007Your favorite music fills the air as you marvel at the vast cosmos before you. You may be walking on a cold winter night, watching the street light illuminate the falling snow crystals. Perhaps you're strolling the beach at the dawn of day or embracing the silhouette of the mountains as the light fades to black. As you hear these words, immerse yourself in that state of wonder. It's beautiful, isn't it? Life. We all come from different backgrounds and beliefs, yet we unite as one here. Now, I won't say all you've done has led to this. It hasn't. All you've done has led to an endless horizon of possibilities. You just have to be curious enough to find it. I come before you today not as a validictorian, a graduate, a high school student, or a friend. I
008come before you today as one of humanity, curious about what our world has to offer. I had a conversation with a peer recently. They asked me, "What is your favorite part about life in one word?" After an extensive amount of thinking, I responded, "Curiosity. It's what brings us to our religion, our faith, our knowledge, our way of life, our desire to know that which we don't and explore that which we cannot. It is the drive of all humans. It brings us to the depths of the oceans and the vast horizons of the cosmos. We give it this name because it defines our quest to to comprehend the incomprehensible curiosity. Look within yourself now and ask, "What are you curious about as you leave this building today? Carry that question with you. Take hold of it.
009Engrave it into your mind. And in whatever you do after you exit this room, pursue that which you are curious about. Don't live a life for what your friends want. Don't live a life for what your family wants. Go live a life for what you want, for what makes you curious, what pushes you to leave your comfort zone and explore the edge of the universe. You are meant for great things. There is no bound to what you can do in this life. You are only restricted by your own curiosity. Whether you become a nurse, a lawyer, a welder, a business person, a neurosurgeon, a priest, a plumber, or even an astronaut, do of your own curiosity. It will not fail you. You are a part of the most remarkable species on Earth. The same species
010that conquered Mount Everest, traveled by way of stars, touched the face of the moon. There is nothing you cannot do. When you go home tonight and celebrate with family and friends, take a moment to go outside, look up at the stars, and wonder at your place in the stars. Don't worry about your place in the dirt. Take risks and seek greatness. Be curious enough to explore something new and accomplish something profound. Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon. I pray each of you greatness. You were born for it. Let nothing deter your own curiosity. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be open to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks
011the door will be open. Long for excellence for you define your life. And as Stephven Hawking put it, "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about the universe. Be curious. Thank you, Cole. Our next speaker is our student elected speaker. He has never failed to excel throughout his time at Eagle River. Above all, he is kind-hearted, funny, and outgoing. Please welcome Gideon Schmidt. [Applause] Hey everybody. Is that okay? Is just leave it there and just stand back. Is that good? Is that okay? You guys okay with that? Okay. Okay. Hey everybody. Um just before I give my speech, I'd love to start us off in a prayer. If you don't feel comfortable in joining in, that's totally fine. Most people are
012going to have their eyes closed anyways, so nobody's really going to know. All right, let's pray. Lord, thank you. Thank you for the love and hope you've given us. Guide us as we walk out of here tonight. Guide our plans and decisions, Lord. Give us hope for the future. We know that you have good things in store for us, Lord. Thank you. Amen. All right. I thank you guys for being the class that I get to graduate with. You all showed me so much love and I've tried my best to love you all back. I have lots of memories with you guys and I wish I could list them all. It's sad knowing that I won't see most of you guys after we graduate. But what matters is the four years we had together. In
013those four years, we all grew so much. Some of you have beards now. But there is still so much more growth to be done. In my four years, I'd like to say that I've grown. And there are some things I would like to share with you guys that I have faith will help you guys in your lives. These things have helped me in my life, and I know I'd be different without them. But before I go ahead and tell you them, I'd like to say I'm not perfect. I'm far from it. I cry, too. I have hard days and I worry. I have days where sometimes I just want to sit in my room and watch Instagram reels. By the way, I think our senior class would win against one gorilla. He'd maybe take out
014the first row, but I think we'd be okay. Now, what I'm going to say, I'll say as humbly as I can because I know I'm only 17 and I still have a long ways to go. So, let's begin. The first thing I'd like to talk about is forgiveness. A word I often hear in high school is crashing out. For those of you who don't know what this means, it means something just made you so mad or upset you're about to make a decision you most likely will regret later. I have crashed out in high school. Peep Cold Stone. For those who know, I have crashed out on people. I have held anger in my heart towards people and that anger turns into hatred. Hatred is a pain that only you suffer from. Hatred isn't something
015that is meant to be carried around. Hatred is a burden that will only weigh you down. Hatred will keep you thinking about someone how much you hate them. Even when they've forgotten you, it's not worth holding on to. So, I tell you guys, forgive. There's freedom when you forgive someone. Getting revenge or payback is no longer a thought in our minds. Our hearts are not meant meant to carry hatred, but to carry love. What I like to talk about next is worrying. I've wasted a lot of time worrying. Who am I going to hang out with during lunch? What college I'm going to am I going to go to? I wonder if they like me back. I wonder what I'm going to do with my life after high school. I wonder if my 2010 Ford
016Ranger is going to be totaled after I crashed it. We all have worried so much, but yet we're here graduating, guys. I'm going to say the line. We made it. We made it. We all worried so much, yet we still made it. So, I tell you guys, don't worry. Worry is a burden that we don't need to carry. Worry is a feeling that only adds weight to your mind. Don't worry, it's going to be okay. Now, let's talk about being a good lover. I'm going to keep this passage quick because I wouldn't say I have the credentials to give advice on this. I'm not married yet. I'm only 17. We'll get there. But there are still some things I would love to touch on. For the dudes first, don't just get her some flowers. Get
017her her favorite flowers. go the extra mile for the ladies. We like flowers, too. Now, there's one last thing I'd like to address to both parties. You don't own the other person. You can't make them do what you want to do. Their body is their body and your body is your body. When you start to treat them like you own their body, you leave scars. And love doesn't leave scars. This is a sad thing that I have to talk about because I've heard of this happening in my school. I'd also like to touch on loss a little bit. A lot of you have lost loved ones this year. It's an awful thing to have to lose someone this young, but you guys are some of the strongest people I know. I'm sorry you had to
018go through that, and I wish that burden could have been shared. But you were also strong and carried it yourself. And out of your suffering came hope. For we know that suffering creates perseverance. Perseverance, character, and character, hope. Love you guys. Now, before I finish my speech, I'd like to thank someone. I wish I could thank all of you and list the things that I love about you guys, but this speech would get really, really long. I struggled a lot to make friends when I first came to high school, but I've always had one friend who is who was always there for me. He's still there for me to this day. He's allergic to peanuts. He's practically seven foot. He's one of the silliest people I know. I would like to thank Jude Nicholson for
019being that friend. Can we all give a hand for Jude Nicholson? Thank you, Jude. I really hope we keep in touch after high school. Best of luck in Colorado. Uh oh. Okay. Now, my final note of advice to you guys. I was miserable most of my high school years, and I stayed miserable until I started walking in the way of love. As I walked through the halls one last time this year, I saw my face in the crowd often. That same face of despair, hopelessness, and misery. Some of you look miserable. And I say to you, you will stay miserable until you walk in the way of love. I don't say this to offend you, but to show you that there is a way out of your misery. I knew that misery. I knew that
020despair. I knew that hopelessness. But I know that there is a way out. And that way is love. Because we know what love is. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy, does not boast. It is not proud. Does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Thank you all for listening. Thank you, Gideon. Our next speaker this afternoon is our elected faculty speaker, the social studies department chair, Mr. Perry Lewis. Mr. Lewis is known as a George Washington fanatic, humorous, and most sociable staff member that Eagle River has to offer. Please welcome Mr. Perry [Applause] Lewis. Oh, there we
021go. Graduates of Eagle River High School, class of 2025. Oh, what a day. What a marvelous day. Today is graduation. Relish these final moments with each other for you are at the apex of your public school experience. You have earned this moment in the sun. Also, we've already started changing the locker accommodations, so we can't take you back even if you wanted to. Graduates, to this point, you have sat through some 14,000 hours of public education over the last 13 years. Some of you slightly less, but I'm happy to tell you that you have come to the end. These are the final few minutes of free public education that you will ever receive. and I am honored that you have chosen me to give this final if symbolic lesson. I'll try to be brief, but
022as those of you who have had me in class well know, I like to talk. I can turn a 15minute lesson on President Garfield's assassination into a 45minute meditation on life, death, the effects of assa the effects of industrialism, replete with a few whimsical side tangents about modern day and my father's gas station in Bangor, Maine. So sit back for a few minutes and relax. Enjoy this last moment because this is the last time that all of you will be in the same classroom at the same time ever again. Don't be in a hurry to get it over with. As of today, you are on the precipice of adulthood, leaving childhood behind forever. For some of you, this is the last time that you will ever set eyes on each other. Some of you are
023leaving Alaska in the next 24 hours or the next week or months. And some of you may never be back. Understand that. Some of you have spent the last four years around the people who are in your midst for the very last time in the next hour. Some of you will never see me or your other teachers again. I can tell you personally that that is hard. We've invested a lot of time and work into you and there have been times that doing so has pushed us to our limits. We smile when you ask us for a bathroom pass for the third time in one period. And we grin when you show up with McDonald's for the fourth day in a row. Tardy. And those cell phones. Honestly, we hate your cell phones. Hate. We
024hate everything about them. We hate I'm glad I could reach someone up there. We hate your shallow dependence upon them. But we should probably thank your parents for getting them for you because I can guarantee you you are free of headlights as much as I've seen the top of your heads over the last four years. But I know I mean it. We we will miss you. And parents, thank you for giving us your maladjusted hormone adult rebels without a clue for the last four years. Despite themselves, we have grown to love them. But now you can have them back. And as you sit there worrying that you have mitched out missed out so much of their lives and the busyiness of parenting, I would simply issue a few words of comfort, don't worry. They will
025still be with you for the next eight years until they fall off your insurance and must emerge from the basement to find their way. Graduates, you should love your parents. They have sacrificed a lot to be here today. Mostly money. But in all fairness, it's not just money that they have sacrificed to buy you daughters those 5-in stilettos you just wobbled down the stairs on now clutching the handrail for fear of falling on your face. And it's not just money that dad sacrificed to buy himself a good pair of Italian shoes only to see them worn by you sons with a pair of tube socks in front of thousands of people. It's not just the money your parents spent on music lessons and rec sport leagues, recre sport leagues and comp sport leagues and required
026elementary school lists and middle school and high school activities fees, science fair materials and school trips. It's not just money they have sacrificed. They have also sacrificed time and dignity. They used to be cool your parents a generation ago when they sat in similar uncomfortable upholstered chairs. And honestly, I know I taught the few of them. That one right up there. Oh, those were the days. the days before the dark times before all of you. Before they could go out on a Thursday night because it's close enough to Friday and let's celebrate. Back then they could go out without fear that their clothing might still carry the stain of baby vomit. Back then, they could spend their Saturdays in repose without having to attend third grade basketball games where overzealous helicopter parents screamed at their
027soft suburban children for not displaying the same level of acumen as LeBron James or Steph Curry when making a layup. Those were the days. the days before arguments over cell phones and homework and cell phone plans and clean bedrooms and cell phone data overages and driving accidents and having to collect those cell phones because even after cell phone plans and data overages, you still get it taken away by pulling out that cell phone in Miss Corson's class. Graduates, you will find that your relationship with your parents also changes today. Don't get me wrong, they still love you. You are one of their most significant long-term investments. They changed your soiled pants when you were a baby. A truly disgusting chore, but well worth it when you smiled back at them from the changing tables with
028a look of pure love in your eyes. They nursed your skinned knee when you were learning to ride a bike and stroke their your hair when you said you would never learn to get it. They felt sorry for you when you were in middle school. Gentlemen, seriously, you guys were a particular challenge between the age of 11 and 14. And then you all became high schoolers, and your parents became associated with Xanax when they're trying to teach you to drive a car. A job that, I might add, seems only half done by some of the things I've seen in the student parking lot. And your parents are now eager to convey a message. And that message is simply, get out. I know, I know. The Affordable Care Act allows you to stay on their insurance
029and that couch in the basement really isn't doing anything else. But nonetheless, you got to go. And if you don't know it, they do. In some sense, this venturing out into the world necessitates my appearance here this afternoon. As I said, this day constitates the last day constitutes the last day that you will meet as the class of 2025. And there is greatness among you. Intelligence that I have seen firsthand and an ability to make your presence known. But tomorrow you will cease to exist as the class of 2025. Tomorrow when you arise, the societal childhood called public schooling will have ended its hold on you. and you will become statistically no more significant than the class that walked across this very stage last year or over the course of the last 10 years. You
030will wake up and be large of a part of a larger faceless mass called the citizenry. And you will go from comfortable little Eagle River High School to a rather uncomfortable thing we call the world at large. And equipped with schooling that you have endured, you will be forced to experience it firsthand. Of course, the dawning future is a dark chasm of yawning uncertainty for grads. But don't worry, you don't have to have faced that future for another 24 hours. First, you will get a diploma and then dinner with your family, followed by grad blast, and then some muchneeded sleep. And then about a day from now when you awake from a cocoon of excitement fueled by rich food allnight hedonism with refillable soda and the lingering effects of the candylays your family is about
031to bestow upon you. The yawning uncertainty begins. But for now you're still nestled into the beautiful comforting bosom of Eagle River High School. So take respit in that because tomorrow the world is yours. And honestly about that, I need to take a moment to explain a few things. Just one thing really. That world that we were supposed to pass on to you, well, it's broken. You're welcome. So, welcome to the world as newly educated, newly endowed citizens, soon to be full-time taxpayers. Welcome to the world we busted. We kind of need you to fix it. Because here's the thing. I'm getting closer to retirement than I am the beginning of my career. And I've got one of those fat teacher pensions that I'm going to coast out on. And I need you to keep this
032world going. However, please be careful because your generation scares us. You are the people after all who came up with such phrases as busen to describe something that excites you, sus for questionable behavior, and riz to describe someone's ultimate flex charm and flirty banter. Really rez one syllable. Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and George Clooney worked for lifetimes to attain what you wrap up in one syllable. Great. I know that some of you feel intimidated by that. I know that some of you are stuck between the sill and corbits of the modern graduate right now. Do you take out a lifetime of loans so that you can go to college without any guarantee of a job afterward and only the promise of your parents' basement to sustain you? Alternatively, do you go into the workforce to
033work two full-time jobs at minimum wage again while you live in your parents' basement because you don't make enough money to afford both health care and an apartment simultaneously? But while you ponder that, we need to get you working on this whole world thing. Because much as my generation and those before me act like we have it all together, well, it's kind of BS. I may pontificate in the classroom, but just now trying to find a parking spot, I had to turn down the radio. Grandma thought she was doing a solid earlier today, but right now some of you are wearing melted gowns because the cotton setting was probably good enough. We've busted the world and we've given it to you. We are the ones that brought you Fox News and MSNBC because somehow we
034thought that bloiated ignorant commentary was better than having, you know, news. We're the ones that brought you Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. Don't thank us all at once. You see what I'm saying? We can't be trusted. You have to do better. And you have to do it while we saddle you with debt, nationalism, climate change, bipartisan bickering, and mudslinging, race riots, a fragile economy, a resurgent Russian economically dominant China, somewhat cracked North Korea, a splintering European Union, and an almost entirely bankrupt Africa. But take heart, there is still Antarctica. That's looking okay. Start there and move forward. Before I depart and we begin the process of conferring diplomas, let me suggest a solution to the Meyer. we face as Americans and citizens of the world. My solution is actually the same as Gideon mentioned a
035few moments ago. Love. By this, I do not mean the frivolous whims of hormones that most of you are undoubtedly familiar with, but rather the abiding love that could be made to exist regardless of changing circumstances. I mean the kind of love that Mahandas Gandhi meant when he wrote, "Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers for a time and they may seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. Think of it. Always. I mean the kind of love that Dr. Martin Luther King meant when he wrote from the confines of a darkened jail cell in Birmingham. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human human personality is unjust. Power is not the ability to stand
036with brash cockurity against the riptide of human hope and deny others their yearning for validity. Power through love is the ability to enable and encourage others dreams as they navigate the waters of an inert society filled with uncertainty. When I say that we should love each other, I mean that we need to find a way to have affection and empathy for our neighbor, which binds with passion and friendship the same emotions we feel when in the company of our friends and family. Imagine as you sit with your family this evening, feeling their affection towards you and projecting that same love towards someone you do not know or with whom you disagree with politically and spiritually. Imagine loving that person with the same deep affection simply because they are a fellow passenger on this earth that
037is broken and confused. When I say that we should love each other, we need to discover the strong friendship bond between people who share common values, interests, and activities. You may not always agree with your siblings, but they are here for you on this important day. Some having traveled thousands of miles to get here for you. Imagine loving other people and other groups in the same way simply because you share a common value of Americans rather than the creed of political party. Think of that power. I understand that some audience members probably scoff at my suggestions and think it weak and dishwy idealism, but I'm a New England man and I've got four centuries of idealistic stock at my back, so go for it. No, I want to believe that someday you can look at
038someone that begins to disparage a group of people for their beliefs and you say, "No, I may disagree with this woman about healthcare and I may disagree with this man about taxation, but she is my sister and he is my brother and I will hear them." Only then can we fight the internal powers of clickishness and pride that threaten us far beyond our great external foes. When I say that we should love each other, I mean we need to discover in another person the passionate romantic love that goes beyond swiping right or left in pursuit of instantaneous gratification. Because when you can love another person fully and completely, then you lose your selfishness and myopic tendencies. Do not settle for the momentary glory of social media. Delve deeper than posing 25 times for the same
039perfect Instagram snap. Seriously, today when you are most interested in taking a selfie, resist that temptation and only take pictures of other people. Don't turn the phone around. resist it again tomorrow and in the days that follow so that one day you can put down your phone altogether and look into the human eyes of another person and love them with nothing between you. And finally, when I say that we should love each other, I mean that we should love with everlasting charitable love, what the ancients called agape love to prevent the self argrandizing forces of hate and brokenness that are consuming the earth that we have given you. In the words of President Lincoln spoken just shy of his assassination, with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God
040gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace among ourselves with all nations. graduates. Let me finish by saying I have been an educator for 30 years this year. However, against the conventional understanding of why teachers do this work, I did not become a teacher for any special love or interest in teenagers. I have not done this for the kids, as well-meaning people often passively say. Rather, I have been doing this work for over three decades because I have a deep hope for our shared human future. I do this work today so that I
041can welcome all of you into that future. As you stand alongside every previous graduate of Eagle River High School and every other graduate across this great land, I simply ask that you keep and maintain that hope of a shared future kindled inside of you for the rest of your days. Thank you. God bless you and good luck. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lewis. We will now welcome Eagle River High School combined choir for the performance of Omnia Soul by Z. Randall Stro. [Music] Somewhere far from nowhere I grew both strong and talling become but knowing not the path at all. But the footprints of the winter melt into fields of spring. One last embrace before I cross the threshold. To life [Applause] with Oh, stay your soul and leave my heart in song. will stay
042your hand. The journey may be long. And when we part and sorrow can't be swayed, remember when and let your heart be saved. [Music] Oh, [Music] [Applause] [Music] absolut. [Music] Awesome. Through the strength of I find refuge from the shore. Let courage be your or let passion be your s. Wisdom and truth will guide your deep hearts [Music] year through all tr. Oh stay your soul and leave my heart in soul. Oh, stay your hand. The journey may be long. And when we part and sorrow can't be swayed, remember when and let your heart be saved. be a soul tempered heart of Single [Music] jo the journey. [Music] [Applause] And when we part and [Applause] [Music] sorrow and let your heart be [Music] be [Music] [Applause] Class of 2025, we are moments away from our
043diplomas. the symbolic sheet of paper representing our countless hours of hard work, dedication, challenge, and perseverance. The golden ticket to the next step in our lives. Who to accept our class and share a few words is our hardworking and highly competitive Wacko competitor, Mr. Principal Tim Hy. [Applause] [Music] Thank you. It's actually not evening. We'll go with good afternoon students, families, staff, and esteemed guests to our 20th year of graduations. It is my great honor and privilege to stand before you today as the principal of Eagle River High School as we celebrate the graduating class of 2025 graduates. What an incredible journey you've had. Over these past four years, you have demonstrated what it means to lead with integrity, to work with purpose, and to strive for excellence in everything you do. You have grown
044not only in knowledge, but in character, resilience, and heart. This class has shown remarkable leadership in our classrooms, on our athletic fields, in our community. You have been the role models, trailblazers, and teammates. You've made this school a better place through your passion, your kindness, and your commitment to one another. You've worked hard, harder than most will ever know. You've balanced rigorous academics, extracurricular commitments, part-time jobs, and the many responsibilities that come with growing into adulthood. And through it all, you've achieved tremendous success, academic awards, athletic victories, creative achievements, and personal milestones that reflect just how far you've come. You have earned this moment, every single one of you. To the incredible staff and faculty of Igua High School, thank you. Your unwavering dedication and compassion and commitment to excellence have shaped these graduates into
045the confident, capable individuals we celebrate today. Your hard work behind the scenes has made all of this possible. And to our families, thank you for your love, support, and sacrifices you've made to help these students reach this day. You've cheered them on through every challenge and triumph, and we honor you as well. I'd also like to recognize those family members who are not here today to support our graduates and to our Eagle River community who lost a classmate to leukemia last year. Graduates, as you leave the halls of Eagle River High School, know that you carry with you the strength of this community, the pride of your school, and the confidence of all of us who believe in you. Your future is bright, not just because of what lies ahead, but because of who you
046become. So go forward with courage, lead with purpose, and always remember, once a wolf, always a wolf. Congratulations, class of 2025. [Applause] All right, we ready to graduate? Let's do it. Will the members of the class of 2025 please [Applause] rise? Dr. Bryant. The records of each student present have been examined and been found to have met the credit criteria for graduation from the Anchorage School District. It is my honor to present to you the Eagle River High School class of 2025. On behalf of the Anchorage School District administration, it is my sincere pleasure to accept the class of 2025 of Eagle River High School. Mr. Pat Higgins, may I present to you the class of 2025 of Eagle River High School. Thank you. On behalf of the Anchorage School Board, it's my honor to
047accept the 2025 class of Eagle River High School. Congratulations, graduates. Graduating class of 2025, you may be seated for roll call. Please follow your lead, your junior grad assistant. Go ahead. Lillian Karen Hunter Hunter [Applause] Jude Christopher Nicholson, Magna Kumlad, NHS student government. Rian Grace Dobbins, Sumakum Lady, Seal of Biiteracy, French Student Government. [Applause] Miguel Lara IVth, Kumlady, Student [Applause] Government. Alex Matthew Malone, Sumakumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, German NHS, Student Government. Somebody forgot his name, right? What's the middle name? Gideon, Gideon Sawyer Schmidt. Elias Benton Rump, validictorian, Sumakumlady, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish, NHS. Cole John William Smith, validictorian, Sumakumlad, NHS. Jackson Kingsley Adams Magna Kumlady [Applause] Julia Alisa Alberto [Applause] Carson Anthony Alexi Indian Education Migrant Education mind if I do? Not at all. Sebastian Aiden Anderson, Owen Michael Annis, [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Damarice, Aan,
048Manzer. [Applause] Why did you get a big one? Why'd you get a big one? Austin James Atkinson, Magnaumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, [Applause] French. Jacob Nathan Baltz, Sumaumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. NHS Landon Kyle Becker [Applause] [Music] Ava Katherine Brooft [Applause] Michelle Michelle Michelle Caitlyn Michelle Kumlad, [Applause] Garrett David Bell, Everett Ray Bickley IVth. [Applause] Burl Aviana Marie Burl Kumlad AFJ RO TC Garrett James Bird Suma Kumlad Seal of Biiteracy Spanish Keegan William Blank Magna Kumlad. You don't want to know me? Okay. Lache [Music] [Applause] Bond, Kaden Nicholas Brham, Kumlad, [Applause] Rashan Dwayne Brown. You did it. [Applause] Eli Joshua Browning, [Music] Vash Kingston, [Music] Bundy Sia Sariah Rose Burkheart, Junior Senior [Applause] [Music] [Applause] graduate Tabitha Hazel Burley, Indian [Applause] Education. Kina Yvon Camila [Applause] Isabella Carner Kumlad. Are you ready for this one? Nope.
049Your turn. Okay. Raphael Simeon Doliente Carasino Suma [Applause] Kumlady Dearan Malik [Applause] Carter Benjamin Joseph Charlestream [Applause] [Music] Mary Le Marylus Chopen, Seal of Biiteracy, French, Foreign Exchange Student, France. [Applause] Catherine Anne Baker, Christie, good job, Catherine. Twinning Michael John Baker Christie it's Mitchell Mitchell Kaylee Alyssa Clark I know she did dude good job Z appreciate that Zen Kirice Unlan Alanzaba Claw. I sorry sorry Z I tried. Indian [Music] [Applause] education Braden Scott Collins Magnaum [Applause] Lad Liam Alexander Collins Magnaumlan [Applause] Nicholas James [Applause] Collins Elena Gabriella Combmes, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. Reys Addison Korn Magna Kumlady. [Applause] Matthew Jean [Applause] Crowder, Seth Michael Copper, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. [Applause] Andrew David You guys didn't trade Florian David. [Applause] You can go faster. Sophia Rose David [Applause] Shaylee Lynn Davies. [Applause] Kaiden Asher Dela Cruz,
050[Applause] Za Nicole Dobeck, Suma Kumlad, Ava Angelica Douglas, Sumakum Llad, Seal of Biiteracy, [Applause] Sherman Darren, Samuel Robert Darren, Seal of Biiteracy, French Georgiana Teresa Edgar, Brena Bren, Brena Rose Enderly, [Applause] Judith Marie Atund Akuma, Seal of Biiteracy, French, Foreign Exchange, Cameroon, Brick Jean Evans, [Applause] Asher Roland Farmer, [Music] [Applause] [Music] Brendan Ray Farmer, [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Nolan Scott, Far Kumlady, this one. Oh, yeah. Anna Tres Fing, Seal of Biiteracy, German, Exchange Student, Germany. [Applause] Tess Paolin Fernandez Renoir, Seal of Biiteracy, French, Foreign Exchange, French. Emily Grace Fields, [Applause] Louie Rex Flint I 4th Frederick Hero [Applause] Foley William Joseph Ford [Applause] Grace Taylor Forner, Sumakumlady, Connor James Gray, Frick, [Music] [Applause] Kumlady, Alexander Francis, Gabriel, [Applause] Genova Olivia Garnett Young. [Applause] Mona Johanna Gase, Seal of Biiteracy, Germany, Foreign Exchange, Germany. Jaden Alexander
051Grist, Rebecca Ruth Marie Gilroy, Magna Kumlady, [Applause] Jared Moroni, Gladwell, [Applause] Alexia Marie Gonzalez, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish Student Government. Esmeralda Adilena Gonzalez, [Applause] [Music] Serenity Marie Gold, [Applause] Elliot Pierce Graham, the whole shebang. Henry Thomas Loren Gradanis, Magnaumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, French [Applause] NHS. Tyler Glenn Griffin, [Music] [Applause] Leland Marco [Applause] hair Brentton Todd Harrison Kumlady Libby Isabella Haw Charles Gregory Hine, Lillian Rose Hines, Magnaumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. Maddox James [Applause] Hines Elsa Maria Henderson Suma Kumlady Seal of Biiteracy French and Russian National Honor Society. Kenzie Nicole Hensley Suma Kumlady National Honor Society. [Applause] Yuki He saya, foreign exchange, Japan. Jordan Ray Holstrom, Kumlady, Matias Aaron Hopkins, [Applause] Ayanna Haruka [Applause] Huniger Christristiana Isabelle Jimenez, student government yearbook editor. [Applause] Joshua Tobin Johnston Magna [Applause] Kumlady Haley Isabel Jonesber [Applause] Ryan David Kennedy
052Milesber [Applause] Miles Keber [Applause] Cameron Fay Kroi. [Applause] Andrew Carl Krellner, Suma Kumlady, Seal of Biiteracy, French. Aiden Thomas Cuk, but she we didn't talk about this. Kyler Ryan Kurtz, yearbook editor. [Applause] Caitlyn Marie Lal [Music] [Applause] Jonas Hunter Labar [Music] [Applause] Martina Mono seal of biiteracy Italian foreign exchange Italy [Music] [Applause] Wesley Arnum M, Magna Cumlada, National Honor Society. [Applause] Ella Louise Lusk Suma Kumlady [Applause] Tabi Akina Chantel Tabiara Luciro [Applause] Aaliyah May list. [Music] Oh, William Joseph Lman. Kumlady. [Music] [Applause] Anukica Christine Le. All right, practice this one. We got this. No, Janine Marie Lavo, Foreign Exchange, France. Threw an extra name in there. McKenna Irene Maro Magna Kumlady Seal of Biiteracy German. Joshua Grant Malis, Suma Kumlady, Seal of Biiteracy, German National Honor Society. Ashlin May McVy Kumlad [Applause] NHS Alia Deana
053[Music] Melton Spencer Felix Maness Kumlad [Applause] Rox H. Mercer Magnaumlad [Music] [Applause] Aaliyah Leanne Miller [Music] Bo Llaya K. [Applause] Mitzell. Okay. Natalia Elena Malero Perez, Magna Kumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, French and Spanish. Julia Elizabeth Monttero, Suma Kumlad, [Applause] Jeffrey Wayne Morton [Music] [Applause] II, Cole Riley Moss, [Music] Ryan Benton Mullen, Kumla A National Honor Society, Jack Harvey Mullen, [Applause] Christopher William Murphy, Kumlad Taha. Yep. Taha Robert Naz, Indian education. [Applause] Evangelene Newkerk, Sumakumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, German. [Applause] [Music] Matthew Abraham Ninan, Kumlad, Student Government. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Aiden James Nordstrom, Sumakum Lad, Seal of Biiteracy, German NHS. Giovani Allen North, [Applause] [Music] Aiden Bradley Oberlander, [Music] Hosian Roberto [Music] Ali. All right, buddy. You made it. Isaiah Xander Outwwater, Junior Graduate. [Music] [Applause] April Pages Cole, Foreign Exchange, Spain. [Music] [Applause] Alexis Polo. Alexis
054Chanel Polarmo. Chanel Alexis Polarmo. Chanel Alexis Polarmo. John and John Paul Pquette [Applause] Hazel Marie Patrick [Music] Carolyn Elena Pedin seal of biiteracy French [Applause] giant Ayana Tiara Peoples Magna [Applause] Kumlad Ashton Renee Peterson Kumlad Seal of Biiteracy Spanish you did it man Colin Wesley [Music] [Applause] Pierce Finn Steven Poji Magna Kumlad seal of biiteracy [Applause] German, Jasmine Marie Powell, Hagen Daniel Powers, Conrad Jordan Panzelon IVth, Magnaum Lady Matteline May Rancort, Magna Kumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish NHS [Music] ROC, Kaden Brock Reading, [Music] Pabone Pabone, Michael William Rivera, Pabone [Music] Don Andrew Roberts, [Applause] Kumlad. Liam Garrett Rogers, Sumakum Lad, [Applause] Hayden Raymond Rushing. [Applause] Martin Robert Anthony Sackerson [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Joshua Dennis Wilcox AFJ OTC. [Music] Oh, you can do this. Amasatu Sam. [Music] [Applause] Candace Kira Shangen, Indian education. You want this.
055Jacob Lance [Applause] Shelton, Andy Jacece Sherman, [Music] [Applause] [Music] Siri Shoji, Seal of Biiteracy, Japanese, Foreign Exchange, [Applause] Japan. Sophia Sigman, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. [Applause] Jameson Bryant [Applause] [Music] Skinner, Zoe Jane Sloan, Magna Kumlady, Seal of Biiteracy, [Applause] German Olivia Anderson [Music] Strong, Caleb Michael Zakowski, Seal of Biiteracy French Sumukum Lady Cody John [Applause] [Music] Tarinan Tanner Bobby Thomas [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Brianna Brianna Brianna Angela Tolbert [Music] Charlotte Elizabeth Tulle, Magna Kumlady, NHS. I would have said tle on purpose. Jonathan James Tucker. [Applause] [Music] I know. Roick Adrien Marquez Ubangan. [Music] [Applause] Benjamin Luke Utterbach, Suma Kumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, German National Honor Society. Katherine Grace Utterbeck, NHS Yearbook. [Applause] Olivia Rosena Valenote, Sumakumlady, [Applause] NHS. Logan Lee Vaness, Kum Kumlad, Seal of Biiteracy, [Music] German. Justina Love Vasquez, Seal of Biiteracy, Spanish. [Applause]
056Kayn Faith Vera, [Music] Landon Jared Vorhees, [Music] Xavier Russell, WY, [Music] Riley Rosalie, [Applause] Lola Elizabeth Woodward. Ari Joseph Ephraim Young. Nice and easy. Good way to end it. Connor Young. [Music] [Applause] Freaking Oh, no. We love you more. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Let's [Applause] go. Eagle [Applause] Evil. What's [Applause] that? Before we conclude our ceremony, a note to our audience. First, thank you for attending the Eagle River High School class of 2025 graduation ceremony. Parents and family members, please do not come onto the floor once the ceremony ends. Graduates can be met outside of the arena for celebration and photos. After the tassel turn, seniors, celebrate with your neighbors, but please stay in your seat. Graduation assistants will lead you out in the recessional. Now, it's time for tassels. Today marks the moment we've
057all eagerly anticipated. All of our hard work and dedication has finally paid off. As you accomplish your many aspirations, I hope you will be able to reflect on your time at Eagle River High School with fond memories and feel prepared to face the next chapters of life. Now, will the senior class officers please join me at the podium for the turning of our tassels? Senior class of 2025, please stand. [Applause] What's up, Austin? [Applause] [Music] Seniors, please grab your tassels to signify your transition from students to graduates. After you have tossed your caps, please remember to take your seat one last time until it is your turn to join the recessional and leave the floor. Please grab your tassel on the right side and on the count of three, we will move it to the
058left together. One, two, three. I don't know. [Applause] Congratulations, class of 2025. Please be seated while we wait to leave the arena. [Applause] [Music] One, two, one, two, set, eight. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Word up. Word up. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 1 2 1 2 [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat up here. [Music] [Applause]