Cloudy skies broke into a golden sunset Saturday evening as James A. Garfield High School’s Class of 2025 gathered beneath the lights of JAG Stadium for a graduation ceremony marked by laughter, honesty and heartfelt reflection.
The commencement began with time-honored tradition: the high school band performed “Pomp and Circumstance,” the JAG Choir sang the national anthem, and Class Treasurer Kolby Fresch led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Senior Preston Gedeon welcomed the crowd with sincerity and gratitude, noting the collective struggles and triumphs of the class. “Now that we are all moving on from this chapter, we are stepping into a whole new realm — a realm with endless possibilities,” he said. “Some of us already know what’s next, and some of us are still figuring things out — which is OK.”
The ceremony featured six student speakers who each offered personal, powerful reflections on growth, failure, identity and community.
Hallie Cebulla, class vice president, reminded graduates to take pride in their accomplishments and to embrace empathy moving forward. “You could show love and support for someone you just met by having empathy for whatever they are going through and allowing them an interaction free from judgment,” she said. “These may sound like basic things, but they really are powerful assets of support when continuously and thoughtfully applied.”
Abygail Seiler spoke candidly about her clumsy childhood and a memorable fall during a band fundraiser, using those moments to emphasize resilience. “Our failures are not the opposite of success. They are a part of it,” she said. “It means you’re trying. It means you’re growing. It means you’re stepping into new spaces that challenge.”
Tessa Burnworth described her own fears and self-doubt in preparing her speech, and how stepping away from pressure brought clarity. “You can work so hard for a goal, yet when you actually get there, you can’t do it,” she said. “I will not accept a life I do not deserve.”
Loreal Puleo explored the value of intentional silence and personal conviction in a world filled with noise. “A scream is lost in a crowd, but heard by many in complete silence,” she said. “Change is not created through apathy. Change is not created with easy agreements or following the crowd.”
Oliver May reflected on growing up in the district and expressed gratitude to the school’s faculty. “It’s very easy to think that everything that has been provided for us was ours for the taking,” he said. “But I think we need to sit back and realize that we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to attend school here.”
Board of Education President Guy V. Pietra encouraged graduates to become dependable people in every area of life. “As a family member, as a friend, as a professional — be someone others can count on,” he said. “Let the world count on you — not just to succeed, but to lead with heart.”
Principal Kathleen S. Kisabeth acknowledged the spirit and unpredictability of the Class of 2025 with warmth and wit. “A few of you slid in sideways with one eye open, asking if late work was still being accepted,” she said to laughter. But she closed with pride: “You are ready. Maybe not for everything — but for enough.”
Superintendent Ted A. Lysiak closed the staff remarks with a powerful story about Army musician Graham Jackson, who sobbed while playing his accordion as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s funeral train passed. “The photographer asked, ‘You must have known President Roosevelt, right?’ Graham’s response was simple, yet incredibly powerful: ‘No, but I always felt like he knew me.’”
Lysiak urged students to focus on strengths in themselves and others. “Support each other, because together that’s how we lift each other up and make the world a better place,” he said.
The ceremony continued with a musical tribute to graduating band members and the presentation of diplomas by Pietra, Kisabeth and senior advisor Jeffrey D. Livingston.
Seiler returned to lead the traditional turning of the tassels, and Cebulla offered a final farewell. “With this mindset extending to our next steps — may they be seeking higher education, entering the workforce or military — let tonight be a symbol of our capacity to succeed in whatever we choose to work towards,” she said.
The evening concluded with the school’s alma mater and one final round of applause for the graduates, whose caps and gowns reflected not only a finished chapter, but the first steps toward what comes next.