Sheridan celebrates 137th graduating class

Submitted by Sheridan Community Schools

Last Saturday, May 31 at 10 a.m., Sheridan High School celebrated the Class of 2025 with the commencement ceremony. As the 137th graduating class from Sheridan Community Schools, it was an exciting event for these young adults as well as their family, friends, educators, and administrators who watched them grow.

The ceremony consisted of several individuals speaking and sharing the pride they have for the Class of 2025. The Sheridan High School Band performed the senior-chosen composition “Moscow, 1941” by Brian Balmages. The High School Choir shared its musical talents first with the song “Good Riddance” by Green Day. The choir then performed its rendition of the song “Found/Tonight” which is a mash-up from the hit musicals Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. Both of these songs symbolize and celebrate growing up and moving on, which directly relates to the graduating seniors.

The Valedictorian for the Class of 2025 is Zachary Phillips, son of William Phillips and Jill Cali. The Salutatorian is Mackenzie Smith, daughter of John and Kristy Smith. Both Zach and Mac shared brief messages with the class and audience.

Additional speakers from the morning were the Class of 2025 Alumnus of the Year, Patrick Samuels, a 2011 Sheridan graduate, and Rick Davis, Sheridan High School principal.

Samuels first shared his wisdom and how SHS helped him through his trials and tribulations after he had left the halls of the school. Samuels graduated from West Point and later was commissioned as an infantry officer and then stationed with Special Forces. After leaving the military Samuels started the Sunnyside Egg Company, and became president for Humble Harvest, a rent-free housing non-profit organization. As Samuels shared his wisdom with the Class of 2025, he shared a story of how Sheridan makes everyone feel special and how his experience with a local farmer changed his life.

Samuels left the graduating class with a final notion on the path to a better world, saying, “Choose to be better than you were yesterday and choose to be kind to the person in front of you.” He imparts that the path to a better world starts by changing yourself, but never forgetting where you came from and who got you there.

Principal Rick Davis continued on Samuels’ notion by sharing how, as graduates, they are completing one of life’s major milestones. The steps to graduation are not easy ones, but the steps are a celebration because there are now new opportunities. He leaves the class with four challenges: Don’t Settle, Discover and Share, Be Positive, and Follow Your Dreams. He shared with the graduates that the secret to success is to never stop dreaming about your potential.

Davis expressed how grateful he was for this class, saying, “I truly believe they will build a future bigger and brighter than their present by using the lessons that they have learned and the experiences they have had in their time at Sheridan High School.” He commended the graduates for their athletic prowess and academic success, as well as how their efforts made Sheridan High School a better place.

Following the speeches and music, the graduates were able to take the final steps of high school as they walked across the stage and received their diplomas. Several exchange students were also able to participate in this tradition. SCS Superintendent Dave Mundy then certified the students and pronounced them as graduates. Graduates Mackenzie Smith, Owen Bell, and Makaley Terry all led the turning of the tassels.

As the Class of 2025 goes off into the world, whether that is to college, the work force, military, or something else, Sheridan Community Schools is proud of the hard work that they have done and the many accomplishments they have achieved. This is only the end of one chapter, but it is the beginning of the rest of their lives.