Grad

Overview

The video is a full graduation ceremony recap for EA/Laney High School’s Class of 2025, featuring speeches, scholarship awards, Top 10 recognition, and the final diploma/tassel-switch moment.

Main Flow of the Ceremony

1. Opening

   • Music and applause begin the program.
   • Formal ceremonial moments follow, including color guard and the national anthem performed by the school band.

2. Class Spotlight (SGA President)

   • SGA President Louisa (Lulu) Madigan delivers the class spotlight.
   • She reflects on the four-year journey from freshman year to graduation, highlighting key turning points:
     • Beating their rival New Hover in homecoming
     • Returning traditions in sophomore year (homecoming parade/pep rally and the first homecoming dance)
     • Surviving the stress of junior year
     • The college-application push in senior year
   • She emphasizes future-oriented lessons using quotes from Albert Einstein and JFK.
   • The message is wrapped with guidance about hard work and support systems, ending with:

     “We’re all in this together.”

Scholarship Highlights

• Michael Jordan Scholarships presented by athletic director Mr. Fred Lynch:

  • Jillian Stow — a rare three-sport athlete (flag football, basketball, track), plus NHS/Beta Club
  • Leila Kr. — NHS/HOSA, softball standout, tutor at an elementary school, and camp counselor

• A Board of Education student scholarship awarded by Mr. Pete Wilderbore:

  • Claire Casey and Cara Toret receive future teacher scholarships
  • Support is noted from community volunteering
  • They plan to study elementary education (including NCSU and UNC Wilmington)

• A teacher-recognition moment follows, leading into the next major speech.

Teacher of the Year Speech: Themes and Message

Miss Jessica Harvey (Teacher of the Year / High School Teacher of the Year) delivers an uplifting, memorable address with a “life” metaphor—starting with the chaos of the class’s first day (traffic, being late, masks/sanitizer).

Her core points include:

• “You can do hard things”
• “you are worthy”
• “look up” to notice small joys

She closes with a major life lesson:

Connect with real people—community matters, and the world is suffering from disconnection.

Top 10 Graduates

The ceremony recognizes the Top 10 graduates, including:

• Kylie Caner (Valedictorian) — Duke; biochemistry (also noted: dance leadership and varsity athletics)
• Meyers Dumas (Salutatorian) — UNC Chapel Hill; psychology + nutrition minor

The rest of the Top 10 list is celebrated with brief highlights such as sports, leadership, scholarships, and community contributions.

Student Speeches and Principal Address

Valedictorian Speech (Kylie Caner)

Kylie Caner, valedictorian, delivers a speech mixing humor with perseverance:

• Mentions classic senior-year pressure moments like:
  • Submitting assignments at 11:58
  • Worrying about tardy sweeps
  • Sprinting to beat traffic
• Shares advice from her father:

  “Life’s not fair. Make good choices. Don’t forget to be awesome.”

Principal Closing (Danny Little)

Principal Danny Little closes the major speaking portion:

• Thanks faculty, families, and PTSA/boosters
• Frames the year as rebuilding/reclaiming Laney identity after pandemic disruption
• Highlights achievements (conference/state successes), scholarship totals, and academic distinctions (Summa/Magna/Cum Laude group numbers)
• Reinforces the class’s impact by stating they didn’t just experience high school—they made every moment count.

Final Rites: Diplomas and Tassels

After eligibility verification and recognition:

• The ceremony moves through diploma distribution, including a very long formal reading of graduates’ names.
• The video ends with the ceremonial climax:
  • Graduates stand
  • Tassels are switched to signify completion
  • Final congratulations are delivered from the platform
  • A recessional follows, with faculty forming a celebratory tunnel

Jokes and Memorable Moments

• The most “comedic” bits come from student speeches:
  • Kylie’s humor about 11:58 submissions, tardy sweeps, and sprinting to avoid traffic
  • Teacher Jessica Harvey’s “look up” encouragement, contrasted against stress and distraction
• Several speeches include heartfelt but light “you remember this” references, such as:
  • Pandemic-era first day chaos
  • Traffic
  • Masks/sanitizer

Featured Personalities

• Louisa “Lulu” Madigan — SGA President (Class of 2025 spotlight speech)
• Mr. Fred Lynch — Athletic Director (Michael Jordan Scholarships presenter)
• Mr. Pete Wilderbore — Board of Education member (Future Teacher Scholarship presenter)
• Miss Jessica Harvey — Teacher of the Year / High School Teacher of the Year
• Kylie Caner — Valedictorian (student speech)
• Mr. Danny Little — Principal (final major address)
• Colonel Amy Russo (USAF retired) — color guard direction (mentioned in ceremony intro)
• Mr. Robert Pearson — band director (mentioned in ceremony intro)