Charles City High School graduates Class of 2025

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

One hundred sixteen Charles City students completed their high school education this weekend with the graduation of the Class of 2025.

Friends and families flocked to the Comet Gym on Sunday, May 18, to celebrate the high school students’ graduation.

The program began with Superintendent Dr. Brian Burnight, who welcomed the audience with a recount of the many accomplishments that students of the senior class have accumulated during their high school experience. From achievements in arts and athletics to a head start on college with a collective 901 credits earned, Burnight congratulated the class on all that they have done to go above and beyond as students.

“Today, and every day, is a great day to be a Comet,” said Burnight.

Principal Levi Crawford-Miller followed, announcing the top students of the class. Forty-five students were named to the class honor roll with 28 of them recognized as Gold Cord students for attaining a GPA above 3.5.

Jadyn Van Horn was named as the class valedictorian, with Nicholas Williams named as the class salutatorian.

In addition, Student Class President Isabelle Crawford and Senior Class President Brandy Bettesworth received their Comet Council cords; five students were recognized for receiving a Seal of Biliteracy; six students received a Silver Cord for completing 200+ hours of community service; 13 students earned their FFA Cord; 17 students were inducted into the national Honor Society; and 26 students earned their Music Cord.

Presenting the senior address, Savannah Baldus was gleeful about the choice to pick drama students to speak.

Celebrating how far the Class of 2025 has come over the years, Baldus said her classmates are unique, noting their willingness  to take on new challenges and the unusual frequency that the class was picked to serve as “guinea pigs” for the school to test different programs over the years.

“This group of people will never go through high school again,” said Baldus.

Baldus encouraged her classmates to maintain that energy as they leave high school to pursue success in their adult careers.

“We need to put enthusiasm and effort into ourselves for everything we do from now on,” said Baldus.

Following Baldus was Blake Hoeft, who gave special thanks to Principal Miller for the job he did at his first year in Charles City.

“You have always inspired me and my classmates to do our best,” said Hoeft.

Hoeft recounted many challenges that he and his classmates overcame to get where they are, from COVID to changes in leadership to the tragic loss of one of their own.

“There should be one more person sitting here in our graduation today,” said Hoeft, noting the empty seat in memory of Ayden Stafford. “I never thought we would have to go through something like that.”

Hoeft encouraged his classmates to always remember to be there for the people around them and the difference it can make.

With that, the Class of 2025 lined up for the presentation of their diplomas.

The graduating class of 2025 includes Jenna Aikey ♕⍟✪; Philip Armstrong Jr.; Abby Marie Assink ⍟♞; Marissa Avelar; Aurora Babbitt ♪; Justin Babcock; Laurie Baking; Savvannah Baldus ♕⍟✪ ♪; Shaley Baltes; Kayden Barnish; Michael Bauer ♪; Brandy Bettesworth; Ryder Biwer; Ali Blickenderfer; Kylie Blunt ♞; Emerson Bohlen ⍟; Tatiana Bowdery; Sakira Brown; Abigail Bucknell; Trevor Carolan ♞; Lillie Caster; Ezekiel Causey; Terry Cooks; Isabel Crawford ♕⍟; Jazznee David ⍟; Danica Dejongoy; Gabriella Deverell ⍟✪♪; Dillan Dight ♞; Savannah Driscoll; Alexis Eaves; Brayden Ellis ♞; Emma Ensign; Alex Fernandez; Catherine Field; Isabella Fisher; Jose Flores ⍟♪§; Carson Gallup; Elizabeth Gassman ⍟♪; Volodymyr Gopei; Alexander Graeser ♕⍟; Carter Haberkorn ⍟; Payton Hadley ♕⍟✪♞; Kaitlin Heckers ♕⍟♪; Quinn Heidebrink ⍟♞; Hailey Herman; Darian Hesse ♪; Harley Hinz; Blake Hoeft ⍟♪; Jayden Hubbard; Nevaeh Jensen ♪; Allen Johnson ♪; Cole Jones; Ella Jones; Cassandra Kelly; Natalie Keyes ♪; Natalie King ♕⍟♪§; Klaire Kirby; Kerstin Kirsch ♪; Karli Kitner; Logan Knapp; Rebecca Knecht; Destiny Kolheim §; Braxton Lahr; Taylegh Lantz ♪; Chloe Licht; Kaden Littleton; Kaylee Loftus ♪; Izzie Marth; Christopher Martin; Dominic McGhee; Kamden Meek; Lilie Mohring ♕⍟♪; Brooklyn Molitor; Noah Morris; Saint Pierre Muamba; Gabriel Noble; Gracie Opp ♕⍟♪; Koryn Osier ♕⍟§; Kylie Parsons; Riley Perez; Lauraina Perkins; Jemya Price; Zachary Putney; Evelyn Read; Orion Reh ✪; Mya Rimrod ♕⍟; Jordin Ritter ♕⍟✪♞; Keaton Ross §; Anya Ruzicka ♕⍟♞; John Ruzicka ♞; Toriq Satrio; Hailey Schmidt; Everett Schmitt ♞; Skyler Schneider; Jocelyn Schoeneman ♪; Xavier Scott ♞; Reegan Severin; Kailee Slick ♪; Kaden Smith; Barbara Soifer ⍟; Nathan Stayton; Leah Stewart; Mikalla Teepe ♪; Lucias Thompson ♪; Chase Townsend; Addison Tracey ♕⍟♪; Jadyn Van Horn ♕⍟§; Isabelle Vance ♞; Adam Vandeventer; Nyna Walsh; Alexandria Wedeking ⍟♪; Blake Wiggins; Abigail Willadsen ♪; Nicholas Williams ♕⍟; Noah Worley, and Alexandra Wright ⍟♞.

With diplomas distributed, Principal Miller introduced the graduated Class of 2025 and gave them one last piece of advice, encouraging them to make sure they find a career that they love as they step out into the world.

“Find that work and life becomes a lot easier,” said Miller.

♕ = National Honor Society

⍟ = Gold Cord recipients

✪ = Silver Cord recipients

♪ = Music Cord recipients

♞ = FFA Cord recipients

§ = Seal of Biliteracy recipients