The Sterling High School commencement ceremony for the class of 2025 was held on Sunday, May 18, at 1:00 p.m. in the Roscoe Eades Stadium. Graduation is planned annually by S.H.S. administrators and the district Board of Education.
The graduation ceremony began as the class of 2025, Board of Education, and faculty members walked through S.H.S.’s historic “graduation gate” escorted by the Junior class marshals. As the class of 2025 walked down the stadium’s field, the S.H.S. brass ensemble was directed by band director Erik Oberg in a “Pomp and Circumstance” processional.
Once graduates and faculty members arrived to their seats, class of 2025 President Adamari Gutierrez began the ceremony by reciting the pledge of allegiance. Following the pledge, senior members of the S.H.S. choral program sang the national anthem. The ceremony’s start was completed by principal Jason Austin who spoke on what the class of 2025 has accomplished in their high school careers.
The first student speaker of the ceremony was Gutierrez. In a speech entitled “Hair Doesn’t Hold Memories,” Gutierrez spoke on how the class of 2025 would move onto a new chapter in their lives and move on from the halls of S.H.S. In her speech, Gutierrez spoke in Spanish for the commencement’s Hispanic audience. Gutierrez says that giving a graduation speech was “a giant honor. [She] gave the eighth grade promotion speech in 2021 so it was a surreal moment to do it again in high school.”
Following the first speech, the S.H.S. choral seniors returned to the front of the stadium to perform “Your Song” by Mark Burrows. The performers selected the song alongside choir director Weston Henry and piano accompanist Amy Boze. Senior Cole Stumpenhort states that this song was chosen because “the lyrics revolved around moving on from what you know and being excited for what the future holds.”
The second student speaker was the Student Council senior representative, William Ports. Ports recited his speech “A 2025 Send-Off.” In a more comedic and exciting speech, Ports reflected on positive memories throughout his high school career.
In the ceremony, a honorary diploma in memory of Kaden Beer, a class of 2025 member who passed away in 2017, was presented to Beer’s parents by his former peers. Senior Maddux Osborn, who was a friend of Beer’s and presented the honorary diploma, states that “[he’s] glad the schools have still kept him in their memories and super glad [S.H.S. has] a supportive community who respect the Beer family.”
Following the choral performances and speeches, S.H.S. associate principals and faculty members presented the 3.5+ GPA award winners, Illinois State Scholars, and Advanced Placement Scholars. Additionally, departmental academic awards were presented by seven of S.H.S.’s academic departments.
The ceremony concluded when Superintendent of Sterling Public Schools Dr. R. Tad Everett presented the class of 2025 as official graduates of high school in the state of Illinois. The Board of Education then presented diplomas to all graduating members of the class of 2025.
The class of 2025 will forever be remembered in S.H.S. history as a class of great strength, humility, and friendship. It is exciting to see where their paths will take them and all the great accomplishments that will come.
