Friday, July 18, 2025
John F. Kennedy High School’s Class of 2025 celebrated graduation June 8 as caps soared, landing amid the sea of Cougar green scattered across the football field.
The graduates proceeded to their seats, surrounded by the applause of family and friends, to Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Once the chairs filled in, members of the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard presented the flags. Senior chorus members serenaded the crowd with The Star-Spangled Banner, under the direction of Rachel Shapiro.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Student Government President Matthew Rowe, on behalf of the Class of 2025. He recalled memorable Kennedy events from the past four years, such as Class Night, Dancing with the Teachers, Jam the Gym and Cougar Talks.
“Each of us carry moments with us,” he said. “Moments that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
Kennedy Principal Gerard Owenburg took the stage and introduced Salutatorian Jayden Simon, presenting him with a medal.
Simon delivered a speech discussing the joys and hardships the graduates will encounter on the long road ahead.
“You all have a future to create, one that will change, grow and expand with every failure and every success,” he said. “You cannot be afraid to fail for the nuances of life, in struggles and in smiles, are what allow you to conquer your fears and meet your dreams.”
Valedictorian Mark Prainito followed with a speech about the human desire to find meaning in seemingly nonsensical things.
“We look for it even when it isn't obvious, and we try to make sense of things even when we don't need to,” he explained. “In our own ways, we've been doing the same thing for the last four years.”
Through all of the “nonsense” of high school, he said, each student found meaning, whether it be in art, sports, volunteering or one of the many other subjects and activities offered at Kennedy.
“You don't have to understand everything all at once, but when something does truly matter to you, when something really clicks and moves you, make sure you lean into it,” Prainito said. “That's where your meaning begins, and the things that move you in the direction only you can define.”
Senior Class President Madison Minniti addressed the class next, reflecting on the unique circumstances they faced arriving at Kennedy. They began high school at the end of the coronavirus pandemic, as the school was starting to resume its usual operations.
“Taylor Swift once said, ‘life isn't how to survive the storm, it's about how to dance in the rain,’ and that's exactly what we did,” she said.
Owenburg congratulated the class and acknowledged their resilience in the face of these challenges.
One by one, each graduate walked onto the stage to receive their diploma. Once every student had received theirs, Owenburg announced that they would be giving an honorary diploma to STEM Chairperson Robert Soel, who will be retiring this year.
To conclude the ceremony, Owenburg officially declared the students as graduates of Kennedy. The students collectively moved their tassels from right to left and tossed their caps into the sky, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
