Sanford Seniors were celebrated at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony

WRITTEN BY ISABELLA MCCALL, SPORTS EDITOR

SANFORD, Maine- The Class of 2025 seniors graduated on Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The seniors marched into Alumni Stadium, led by class President Alex Lemay.

More than 200 students received their diplomas, starting with Lemay, followed by the top ten, National Honor Society Members.

Tracy Gibson, Principal of Sanford High School, welcomed those in attendance, highlighting the accomplishments of the graduates.

Gibson also awarded four seniors with various prestigious awards given out at the ceremony each year. 

• Alumni Cup: Zachary Welch
• Tribune Cup: Addie Fiandaca
• Campbell Cup: Brady Adams
• Achievement Cup: Ben Terril

Student-selected speaker and science teacher, Geoffrey Korper, spoke to the graduating class. Korper reminisced with the class about some of the major events throughout their high school years and made a few “dad” jokes throughout his speech. The main resonating theme of his speech to the seniors was to accept yourself. 

He said, “You’ll be with yourself for the rest of your life—so treat your future self with respect, even in the little things.”

Then, Salutatorian Samone Gallagher gave a speech to the graduating class, discussing the many accomplishments of their peers. She compared the members of the class to currents and tides, making it through instability. 

In Gallagher’s closing paragraphs, she wrote, “Each of our seeds has so uniquely bloomed into the wonderfully diverse group we are today. And that in its own is something to be celebrated.”

The speakers ended with Valedictorian Rishi Patel, who thanked everyone in attendance, including his family, for their “fountain of love” and touched on a few lessons and words of advice. 

He told the class, “Think about today and tomorrow, but don’t get so caught up in the day after tomorrow that you miss what’s happening right now. Sometimes planning too far ahead can steal the joy from your present moment.” 

Many faculty members, underclassmen and family members of the graduating class attended the ceremony. Additionally, band and chorus members were present to play songs at the start of the ceremony.

After the graduation ceremony, Seniors traveled to the Apex Center in Massachusetts in an event planned by Project Graduation. They returned around 5 a.m. on Friday, June 5.

Gibson had this to say to the graduating seniors, “To the Class of 2025, congratulations on your academic achievements, all the growth that got you to the finish line, I wish you all the best in the pursuit of bright futures.”

Congratulations to all in the Class of 2025!