Texas Music Hall of Famers Timbuk3 sang “the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
Many Quaker Valley School District officials took that advice as they led 135 seniors along the track of Chuck Knox Stadium, and watched as their newest alumni gathered on the field for commencement June 2.
The high school concert band played “Pomp and Circumstance” while parents and guest cheered the young graduates to their seats.
Several seniors who had committed themselves to serving in the nation’s Armed Forces led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the high school vocal ensemble sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
The ensemble also performed “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”
Technical difficulties at the podium did not prevent administrators from telling students, staff and families how proud they were to celebrate the evening.
High school Principal Deborah Riccobelli said the class of 2025 was one of the most academically and athletically accomplished groups in modern district history.
She told attendees the students’ greatest strength was their communication, collaboration and support of each other. An example the principal gave was of a French class that requested her immediate attention — while preparing for the worst, she found the emergency was to celebrate a classmate being accepted to Yale.
“That moment stayed with me because it captures so much of what I’ve come to know about this class,” the principal said. “Their incredible sense of community and their willingness to celebrate each others successes as if it they were their own.”
Superintendent Tammy Andreyko likened the graduates’ next stage in life to the NFL draft and how the students had the intangibles to “go pro.”
“Make no mistake, you are going pro,” Andreyko said. “Colleges, companies, nonprofits, military — they are drafting you right now. They want what you bring. You are first-round talent. The world is lucky to have you on their team. Class of 2025, take a deep breath. Soak in this beautiful night. It’s not the end of the season. It’s the start of a brand-new game.”
Board president Jonathan Kuzma represented the school board and also offered congratulatory remarks to students embarking on their next chapter.
Student speakers were Lily Sinclair, Ryan Steinfurth and Joyce Olawaiye.
Sinclair centered around her experience in art class and making mosaics. One thing learned from those projects was how things can turn out depending on how much time and dedication is put in.
“Life is like a box of glass, not a box of chocolates,” Sinclair said. “It’s a jumble of potential decisions and outcomes, whether it be your friends, your family or your classes. You get to pick which pieces make up your life.”
Olawaiye had an uplifting message about being a bringer of joy.
Entitled “Titilayo,” her middle name and a word originating from Yoruba, Nigeria, it means eternal joy or one who is joyful forever.
Examples of joy included being the first on the swings during elementary recess, laughing with friends in a hallway or telling jokes in class, getting your favorite food in the cafeteria and finding support when you are at your worst.
“Let joy envelop you and flow to those around you,” Olawaiye said. “High school is just one stage of your life, and you have so much time to find and cherish your joy.”
Steinfurth talked about the cliquishness of school and how overhearing a conversation on a swim team bus years ago sparked a stretch of his life desperately trying to fit in before realizing who and what really mattered.
“One of them said, ‘Should we invite the whole team or just the A team?’” Steinfurth said. “Unfortunately, I knew right away what that meant. They weren’t talking about who was the fastest on the team. They were talking about who was part of the inner circle. Who got invites to the unofficial team dinners and who was in.
“At that moment, I realized in a quiet, uncomfortable way that I was on the B team. That moment stayed with me longer than I expected. … The people that are important at the end of the day are the people who make you feel heard and understood. the people that bring out the best in you just like you do for them, which is something that popularity can’t measure.”
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Riccobelli presented diplomas with the assistance of faculty members Mary Kuchek and Jeffrey Sebastian.
The high school concert band and choir performed the alma mater and students joined administrators for a group photo prior to parents and friends being let on the field.
Members of the Class of 2025
Ariana Ahmed *
Sienna Eve Albano *
Emily Sarah Bablak *
Grayson George Beatty
Carter John Beichner *
Colin J. Benge
Matthew William Buhr *
Lance Burns
Landon Blaine Buterbaugh
Nicolas V. Cardinale * ♦
Grant Castaldo
Gretel V. Christensen
Anthony Jack Cindrich *
Winston Robert Clifford
Kirsten Close *
Kayleigh M. Cooper
Keira Marie Cowher *
Dominic Christian Cox-Giles
Shea Alexa Cunningham
Lorelai Cymbalak
Ethan Dai *
Thomas E. Debelak, Jr.
Stiven Delgado Flores
Jack Diemert
Tia Diemert
Caelin J. Drish
Stella Margaret Duplaga Bethell
Ava E. Evans
Evan Christopher Farmerie
Quinn Wildman Figley *
Ryan Michael Finamore
Gracie A. Findley *
Eleazar Joseph David Folabit
Carmen Gabriela Forsythe
Krista Rae Foster *
Reagan John Fowler
Dylan Robert Franks *
Thomas Daniel Fuener *
Mia Fusco *
Ethan Michael Gabriele
Davin Makaio Gartley *
Margaret Anne Getty *
Travis Anthony Grimm
Brandon Guss
Wyatt Hamm
Nora Hammond *◊
Ava Rae Haniotes
Anna Catherine Hanley
Chole Faith Hanna *
Matthew Thomas Henry *
Adlan Noor Hifri
Braiden M. Hoffman
Jadyn Raynel Holt *
James Waitman Hudson
Serena Hutchens *
Leo Jobbins De Albuquerque ♦
Olivia D. Jordan *◊
Lewis Sebastian Juarez Safran
Paige E. Juliano *
Kwilai Karto *
Joseph Karwoski
Grace Brackin Kenny *
Charles R. Knoll
Ty Morgan Kretzler
Dana B. Kromah
Ruby Krotine *
Lauren Marie Krouse
Wirakorn Kruawangmon ♦
Gia Charlotte Kuyler *◊
David Clark LaLomia *
George Lin *
Emily F. Lovato
Hunter Patrick Lubbert
Amalia Rose C. MacDonald *◊
Grace Marraffa
Morgan M. Martin
Lea Rachel Mauer *•
Sarah Nicole Maust *
Deaglan McLinden
Megan Elizabeth Meditch
Samson Meider
Jack Robert Miller *
Benjamin John Minard
Sarah Katherine Minard *
Mia Josephina Modrovich *
Cecilia Rebecca Montagnese *
Jonathan Munn *
Malachi N. Muzichuck
Keira Rose Myers *
Joyce Titilayo Olawaiye *
Ruby Abigail Olliffe *
Eden Alexandra Palladini
Jamieson Rex Park *
Katherine Rose Patterson
Isaac Jay Penvose
Jackson George Pethel *
Vanessa Simona Pickett *
Miguel Moura Pinho *
Amelia Carmen Pribik *
Nathan Lukas Pribik
August R. Pryor
Lily Ryan Pulkowski *
Kyle Jeffrey Paul Rader *♦
Alina Catherine Radermacher *
Ava Rose Rahm
Emily Grace Reiner *
Marcus Richey *
Oscar J. Roig *
Keira Jade Sanner
Ava Savage *
Kailey Alizabeth Sherry
Lily Baier Sinclair *
Max Anthony Snyder
Maverick Aaron Soracco
Eli Kendrick Stanton
Ryan David Steinfurth *
Abigail E. Suhayda *
Joseph Michael Szuba
Lily O. N. Tarkin *
Elliot B. Thompson *
Carter Peter Turk
Andrew Reagan Vescio
Lucy C. B. Wagner *
Nolan M. Wagoner
Louisa Claire Webster *
Liam Aidan Welge *
Grace Hawley Wiehe *
Tayden Hunter Williams
William Oscar Winnowski *
Cameron Michael Wood
Bennett Calder Wyche
Benjamin Cole Yocca
Gianna Antonia Zickgraf
Sasha M. Zupanc *
Henry Mark Zutter *
* QV National Honor Society Member
• Parkway West CTC National Technical Honor Society Member
◊ Certified Global Scholar
♦ United States Armed Forces Member