Huron recognizes Class of 2025 at 57th Commencement Ceremony

From the River Rat ears to the tail, 437 graduates in the class of 2025 were celebrated at Huron’s 57th Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, June 4th at the EMU George Gervin Game Above Center.

Principal Che Carter gives the Principal's Message at Huron's 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

For students who attended Clague before coming to Huron, it marks the end of seven straight years of having Che Carter as their school principal. Carter shared that he saw something special in this class way back when he first met some of them as sixth graders.

In his message, Carter highlighted that everything starts by just taking the first step. “Start from where you are, and as Dr. Martin Luther King reminds us, you do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,” Carter said. “So never mind the next person’s journey, because comparison is the thief of joy.”

Carter left the Class of 2025 with three questions to ponder, “When you see someone being marginalized, will you take a stand even when it’s uncomfortable? Will you think critically, or will you fold to groupthink? Go Along to get along. And finally, will you question injustice even when it’s inconvenient, and not popular?”

Eseose Onehireba gives the class message at Huron's Commencement Ceremony.

The class message was delivered by Eseose Onehireba. She dedicated her remarks to the very first day the Class of 2025 stepped into a classroom and time was focused on coloring, nap time and ABCs, that led into ever more challenging classes over the years. “The classes were only one-fourth of the high school equation,” Onehireba said. “One of the biggest challenges of being a high schooler is finding out who you are as an individual outside of academics.”

Onehireba called on her classmates to never stop growing as individuals and that she knows they all will thrive wherever life takes them. “All you can do now is learn to enjoy the journey,” she said. “So, Class of 2025, as we take this step into the great unknown, let us continue to carry forward with us these lessons we have learned and the strengths that we have acquired. Let us be the architects of our futures, and no matter what happens, always remember that your journey has only begun.”

The Class of 2025 Gift was presented by Co-Presidents of the 2025 Executive Board Selene Koremenos-Tsebelis and Katherine Ma. Koremenos-Tsebelis joked that they had considered building a playground or getting a live River Rat mascot, but in the end they presented funds to the incoming 9th grade class and invested in cell phone charging stations for the school library.

In accepting the class gift, Board of Education President Torchio Feaster said, “We look forward to watching your continued successes and your future growth, and we are so proud of you all.”

Math teacher Eric Geiger gives the Commencement Address at Huron's 2025 graduation ceremony.

Math teacher Eric Geiger was selected by the Class of 2025 to give the Commencement Address. Geiger held true to his word, and only included a few math puns in his speech. Instead he focused on the contradiction of being optimistically pessimistic. He said members of the Class of 2025 have been living this contradiction for years. “You’re part of the generation where once in a lifetime seems to happen as often as people upgrade their phones,” Geiger said. “You’ve seen more changes in your few years than a lot of people see in their entire lives.”

Geiger said the types of pressure the graduates have faced in recent years have shaped and revealed character. “All of you, and again, I emphasize, every single one of you, have the chance to step into a world that desperately needs your fresh eyes, your open minds and your bold hearts.”

In authorizing the presentation of diplomas, AAPS Superintendent Jazz Parks told the Class of 2025 that they have everything that it takes to move forward and make their mark in the world in positive and profound ways. “We cannot wait to see all of the things you will continue to achieve,” Parks said. “May your journey be filled with joy, success and the continued display of resilience that defines you.”

Musical performances included America the Beautiful and The Huron Alma Mater, On the Banks of the Huron, performed by Bel Canto and A Cappella Choirs, Symphony Band and Orchestra, (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life sung by LaMar Ashford III and Selene Koremenos-Tsebelis with music provided by Raphael Allen, Kai Farjo, Jay Hoskeri, Lianne Liu, Desmond Lorenz, Yair Martinez, Cameron Payne and Irene Wang.