By Lynn Schofer

The Seaford High School graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of the class of 2025. Seaford High Principal Dr. Susan Harrison welcomed family and friends as well as distinguished guests that included Matt Lloyd, county council; Matt MacCoy, Seaford mayor; Dan Henderson, Seaford vice-Mayor and councilman; Blades Mayor Nancy McAdams; and Seaford Police Chief Marshall Craft to the commencement.

Seaford School Board President Kimberly Hopkins spoke on behalf of the Board of Education, encouraging the graduates to “soar like the Blue Jay that represents our school, bold, bright, and full of energy.” Hopkins added, “Our community is better because of you and the world will be too.” 

School board members Dr. Jeffrey Benson, Dr. Dara Laws Savage, Marcus Wright, and W. Armore Rice, Jr. were also in attendance.

The Seaford High class of 2025 celebrates at the end of last week’s graduation ceremony, which was held indoors due to the threat of rain.

Seaford School District Superintendent Dr. Sharon DiGirolamo recognized the accomplishments of the class and said of their futures, “It will be shaped by the choices you make.” 

DiGirolamo told the class they are responsible to build a future by their choices and said, “Let me be clear, choosing your path doesn’t mean walking it alone. Behind every one of you are people who helped to make this moment possible. Never underestimate the value of their voices when it comes time to make the hard decisions.” 

DiGirolamo told the class that Seaford is a strong and powerful community and know that they may carry their community with them as they go forward in life.

Salutatorian and student government vice-president Graci King thanked all the families for their love and sacrifice that supported their journey to graduation. King thanked teachers, “Thank you for seeing something in us, for being patient with us, for challenging us to be better.” King said the three words “we made it” encompass their many journeys that led to graduation. King said to her classmates, “We are stepping out into the world with not just knowledge, but with heart and purpose.” King will study environmental biology at Salisbury University in the fall. 

Valedictorian Angel Chavez-Santos said, “First of all, we give glory to God.” Chavez-Santos spoke as a Guatemalan child of immigrant parents, “They gave me life and give me blessings, without their love and support, I would not be where I am today.” 

Chavez-Santos spoke of hope to his classmates, “Go into the world and make a difference, despite all the challenges you may face. It is important that we as a community stick together.” Chavez-Santos plans to study biology at the University of Tampa and aspires to be an orthodontist.

Seaford High Principal, Dr. Susan Harrison told the class, “Four years of hard work culminating in this amazing moment.” Harrison encouraged the class to look around and witness the many celebrating them. Harrison shared to the class, “You are not afraid to be yourselves, you are stubborn, you are not afraid to show who you are, what you think, how you feel.” 

She went to share, “Some of you are loud, some quiet, but all of you are unyielding in your perseverance, in determination …do not lose this part of you.” Harrison advised the class to be true to themselves but to ask and accept help and to remember they always have their school to come to when needed or to share their success.

Harrison presented the diplomas to the 221 graduates as their names were read aloud by Dr. Shay-Lynn Crowson, Chanelle Evans, and Dr. Rony Flechier, associate Principals. The class of 2025 officers were Sadie Blaine, president; Graci King, Vice-President; Dah’Niyah Blackwell, Secretary; Ingrid Reta-Alanis, Treasurer; Tyraa Cornish, Member at Large; Erika Noel, Historian. The Class Motto, “The tassel was worth the hassle.”