BY DEBBIE PAGE
Crossroads Arts and Science Early College Principal Alicia Eller praised the Class of 2025 at the school’s commencement ceremony on Friday afternoon, congratulating them on earning just over $2.3 million in scholarship offers among their other achievements.
The seniors are the 10th consecutive group to have a 100 percent graduation rate. Ninety-five percent of the class is on track to complete their associate degree from Mitchell Community College by the end of summer session, and 86 percent have committed to further their education in the fall. Sixty-eight percent of the class graduated with honors.
Nance said 19 students earned associate of arts degrees, 12 associate of science degrees, two associate of fine arts degrees, and 13 earned applied science certificates.
After seniors entered Mac Gray Auditorium, the Statesville High School JROTC presented the colors, followed by the National Anthem. Atreyu Wright recognized recognized special guests, including special guests Cindy Haynes, I-SS School Board member, LeVar Mizelle, I-SS Chief Human Resources officer, James Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College, Crossroads Social Studies teacher Mike Williams (announcer), and Crossroads 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year Kenneth Eichberg.
Ryley Murphey welcomed family and friends to the celebration, telling his classmates that graduation day represented their “determination, grit, and unwavering resilience in pursuit of knowledge and innovation.”
Though they came with different backgrounds and dreams, they stood together after shared lessons, coming through difficult periods together, and pursuing growth, discipline, and purpose. All the experiences they endured were “building blocks on the path to success.”
He urged them to ask questions and challenge the status quo as they pursue opportunities in a world of uncertainty and to fight for what is right.
Murphey concluded by thanking those present for their support and for providing a strong foundation as they towards their paths to success. He also thanked his classmates for “building each other up.”
In sharing his inspirational thought, Vincent Urdi thanked the graduates’ teachers and parents for their help and support. “Thank you for showing up and investing in our successes and in our failures, urging us to pick ourselves up and try again,” he said. “You never truly fail until you stop trying.”
Urdi also celebrated that the class had successfully completed high school diploma and their associate degree debt free, despite the challenges of COVID-19.
He asked his classmates to “be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind. Enjoy this moment, and celebrate to the fullest.”
Autumn Osborne next performed special music, “For the Good Times,” followed by Kevin Banh’s message, joking that he found the idea of teen high school graduates giving their peers advice ironic.
Banh said getting through their early high school COVID-19 years took “serious adaptation and tenacity. Have confidence in yourself when you face your next challenge when you walk out of here today.”
Speaker Rhea Nantz quoted Mick Jagger, saying, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just get what you need.”
Nantz celebrated the resilience and accomplishment that brought her classmates to the ceremony. While some fulfilled their dreams, some are now pursuing paths that might be quite different from that which they originally planned as they started high school.
Though potholes and forks in the road to success are ahead and life will be hard at times, Nantz reminded them they they will be fine because they are smart and capable and “so much more than the world will tell you you are.”
Dreams will change, but they will move forward and find success in many ways as they persevere in finding their dreams.
“What’s meant for you will come for you.”
Diplomas were then presented to graduates by Eller, and students were congratulated by the honored guests as they crossed the stage.
After diplomas were presented, Eller congratulated those who graduated with gold, silver, and bronze medallions for their academic achievement. She also recognized the Crossroads staff who helped students achieve the class’s perfect graduation rate.
She praised students for finishing both their high school and associate degree classwork in five years or less, which took “incredible focus, discipline and grit” despite twists and turns along the way.
Eller reminded the seniors that “success is not only what you achieve but what you become along the way. Keep striving striving toward your dreams, and never underestimate the impact of kindness, integrity, and hard work.”
“As Maya Angelou once said, ‘Do the best you can until you know better; then when you know better, do better.’”
After graduates turned their tassels, speaker Mia Sundman gave the final farewell to her classmates as they prepared to step into their futures. She urged students to take time to de-stress and find their joys.
She also advised her classmates to stand up for themselves and not be people pleasers. “Ask those questions, be curious, and don’t let yourself be talked over.”
As she concluded the ceremony, Sundman reminded graduates that time cannot be unwound, so she urged them to not waste that precious commodity.
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