RHS honored 316 graduates of the Class of 2025 on Thursday, June 12. The ceremony began at 5:30 p.m. on Bauer Field.
The celebration started with Visual and Performing Arts Supervisor John DiEgidio welcoming the graduating class onto the field. Next, the Randolph choir and band gave a stirring performance of the national anthem, the alma mater and “Omnia Sol,” a piece that reflects on the passage of time, marked by meaningful events and people.
RHS Principal Jessica Baxter spoke first, encouraging students to take pride in the extraordinary work they’ve done. “This class has a very positive energy; they have developed strong relationships with their teachers and are a respected and well-liked class,” Baxter said. “They hold a very special place in my heart, as it was the class I spent my first full year here at Randolph with.”
Senior Sareena Kalinani, the student council president, took the podium next. “I wanted our senior year to feel like more than just surviving high school; I wanted it to feel memorable,” she said.
Kalinani noted that her speech was inspired by “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” one of her favorite movies. “This moment, sitting here in our caps and gowns; it matters,” she said. “These moments make us feel infinite. Let’s hold onto these feelings.”
Class salutatorian Noelle Thompson spoke next about the importance of self-acceptance. She described how “others attempt to define us, but what matters most is knowing that you are so much more.”
“For most, senior year is a closing, but for me it was an opening,” she said. “I’m ready to embark on the next stages of my journey. Remember your younger self and embrace the best version of yourself. Appreciate you for who you truly are.”
Class valedictorian Priyasha Pal followed, speaking about inclusivity and how everyone belongs in our environment. “I’d like my role as valedictorian to provide a realistic hope for what’s to come, a stark unboundedness in a strange world,” Pal said.
Pal noted that her speech paid homage to “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” her favorite children’s book series. “The truth is, we cannot turn back time, and you are exactly where you are supposed to be,” she said. “You should never forget where you have come from and how far you are. Take the leap and pursue the risk.”
Krista Seanor, the RHS Teacher of the Year, was unable to attend and speak at the ceremony. However, during that morning’s graduation practice, she expressed her gratitude and encouragement to the Class of 2025.
Next, Superintendent Jennifer Fano spoke to the graduates. “Tonight is more than crossing a stage,” she said. “You have become more than just students; you can change the world. You all did this together.”
Students received their diplomas next, after hearing their names announced by RHS Educators Sandra Kessell and Jacob Torsiello.
Class President Jack Manolis finished up the night, urging students to “live in the moment and not rush through important moments in life.”
“I spent a lot of high school looking at a check list, wanting to look ahead in life,” he said. “I was so focused on what was next that I missed what was now. It’s okay to not have everything figured out, because some of the greatest things in life mean taking a step and not knowing where it leads.”
To make graduation official, Manolis asked graduating students to move their tassels from right to left. “Congratulations, Class of 2025, we did it!” Manolis said to end the night.
