25-05-2025
Bemidji High School graduates define their success as class of 2025
May 24—BEMIDJI — "Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
Credited to the late Dr. Seuss, this quote officially represents
Bemidji High School's
class of 2025, who celebrated the end of an era and the start of a new one during their commencement ceremony at the Sanford Center on Saturday.
Proceeding into the arena in a sea of navy blue and white, the most recent addition to BHS' alumni base — including graduates Moraya Holleman and Annabelle Haas — had the opportunity to reflect on the past 13 years as they prepare for the rest of their lives.
"Today is a very special day, and it's special for more than just receiving a diploma," Holleman said. "We have spent the last 13 years of our lives striving for the success of walking across this stage and receiving our diplomas.
"Most of us have never had something that we have worked so long to achieve — something so life-changing, something so permanent — that we can say we did, thus far, in our lives. We have spent seven hours a day, nine months a year, working for this day."
Throughout much of the ceremony, emphasis was placed on what defines success.
Bemidji Area Schools
Superintendent Jeremy Olson encouraged graduates to focus on four core pieces of advice — be grateful, keep learning, be resilient and live with purpose — as ways to focus on what matters most.
"We only get one life, live it well," Olson said. "At the end of your life, it's not going to matter what promotions you've had, how much you've earned, how large your house is, the kind of car you drive. What matters most is how you've invested in others. Your impact will be measured by that."
Holleman expounded on certain definitions of "success" and urged her classmates to reconsider what it means to be truly successful.
"Success is often defined by money and fame," she said. "We are an amazing group of people who have had so many accomplishments in this school over the last four years, and I have no doubt that we are going places. But let's not get caught up in the modern definition of success that we forget what true joy, kindness and true success are.
"We can reach for the stars. We can become pro-athletes, professional musicians, amazing inventors and entrepreneurs, and maybe even billionaires. But all of that means so little if we aren't good people."
Principal Jason Stanoch used the word "endurance" to describe the class of 2025 when looking back at their past four years at BHS.
"Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines endurance as 'relating to a race or other sporting event that takes place over a long distance or otherwise demands great physical exertion, stamina.' Four years is a long time to endure," Stanoch said. "Some of you might think that today is the end of the game, but just like halftime in football or between innings of softball or between periods of hockey, the game has just begun.
"You will continue to represent our school and community as Lumberjacks in the game of life."
Stanoch also provided notable stats for the graduating class, which included 112 academic letter winners, 60 graduates with grade point averages of 3.9 or higher, 59 honor graduates and 49 members of the National Honor Society.
One graduate attained a National Merit commendation along with three semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship, which is considered the most prestigious and competitive scholarship in the nation.
The class attained 96 medallions across 110 career pathways within the
Bemidji Career Academies.
The class also represented 12 tribal nations, recorded 56 Native American graduates and had 10 international exchange students.
A total of 18 student-athletes will continue to compete at all levels in their respective sports.
Collectively, the 2025 class earned a total of 1,572 college credits, which equates to more than 13 bachelor's degrees from a four-year university.
Graduates are set to attend an array of colleges, including Bemidji State, Hamline University, Swego and Illinois State University, among others.
Recognized at a May 15 senior awards program,
the class has earned nearly $3 million in scholarships.
"That number continues to grow every day as we receive notices from various colleges, institutions and organizations that are investing in your future," Stanoch added.
Noting the class' continued success — given its expansive definition — Stanoch expressed appreciation for the class of 2025's impact on BHS as they represent their alma mater outside its classroom walls.
"We will forever be grateful for the legacy of success that you have added while you were at BHS. You have brought joy to our lives — the staff, our students, our families," Stanoch left off. "We are excited to watch your journey beyond high school."
The full graduation ceremony can be viewed on the
Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel.
