21-05-2025
Claremore Class of 2025 graduates at drizzling commencement ceremony
Claremore High School awarded diplomas to the 331 members of its Class of 2025 Sunday at Lantow Field.
Intermittent showers and a gloomy forecast prompted the district to move graduation a few hours ahead of its initially planned start time. Families and graduates alike huddled under umbrellas and ponchos as they packed into the football stadium.
Rain continued to fall as the seniors framed the football field in red and white and watched their classmates' faces flicker one by one up on the Jumbotron. Each senior had recorded a "Senior Shout-Out" video to thank their friends, family, teachers and others who had helped them make it to graduation.
After everyone had taken their seats, Principal Brooke Lee thanked the crowd for its patience with the weather.
"I know everyone just got wet rear ends as they sat down, but it was just really important to me to keep this outside for you seniors so that as many of your family members could be here to celebrate this moment with you," Lee said. "I've heard in some cultures, rain on a wedding day is good luck. So maybe on graduation day, it's good luck as well."
Lee said among the Class of 2025 are four valedictorians, 22 salutatorians, 33 Oklahoma Academic Scholars, one Academic All-State winner and one National Merit Finalist. The class earned a collective $2.8 million in scholarships, she said.
Claremore's senior class helped propel the school to high honors this year in several sports and extracurricular activities. Lee said Claremore's girls track and field, boys golf, jazz band, academic bowl and Future Farmers of America agricultural communications teams had all won state championships.
It took Lee more than five minutes to list all the groups that had achieved on the state or national level this year.
"I'd say this group of seniors knows a thing or two about succeeding, and they've got the accomplishments to prove it," Lee said.
Each of the four valedictorians gave a speech. Caroline Lee, who will study management information systems at the University of Oklahoma this fall, quoted "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" to remind her classmates to appreciate life because it moves so fast. Allison Wiseman, headed to Milwaukee School of Engineering to study biomedical engineering, advised people cannot control all their circumstances but can always control their perspective.
The other two valedictorians, Kizer Ballard and Campbell Crum, will each pursue a political science degree. Ballard said many people had shaped her life, but especially her late grandfather and former Claremore Superintendent Keith Ballard. She said her grandfather dedicated his life to education and taught her to appreciate its value.
"There will be smaller gatherings of classmates at reunions, weddings and other celebrations, but right now, this is the last time we will all be together," Ballard said. "Let's rejoice in what we have left and know that I am proud of each person here, and my grandpa would be, too."
Crum thanked his parents, who both work at Claremore elementary schools, for orienting him toward education. Between jokes about the rainy weather and Claremore's attendance rates, Crum said he hoped the school would one day restore the block schedule it will replace next year with a seven-period day. This prompted his classmates to clap and cheer.
Crum told the rest of his graduating class that though they're starting a new chapter, it's OK to look back once in a while because it's human nature. He referenced his favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, and how Vonnegut loved Lot's wife for looking back on Sodom.
"I found there will always be good in the past if you look for it, and please do look for it because sometimes becoming a pillar of salt will remind you of your beginnings," Crum said. "... Love everyone because no matter what, they're human. Vonnegut once said, 'We're all here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it even is.'"
Italya Lona, Claremore's senior class president, gave the last speech and received her diploma first. Lona thanked her family, friends, teachers, coaches and Jesus, and said she loved them more than Starbucks during finals week.
Lona said her classmates should be proud of themselves for surviving high school and use that accomplishment to push them through future challenges. She counted the class down into a chant of, "We did it."
"Class of 2025, here's to the memories we made, the obstacles we overcame, and the people who helped us along the way," Lona said. "I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else. Now, let's go walk this stage and get out of here like we've been dreaming of since freshman year."
