Saturday, June 21 marked the culmination of years of hard work as the George Washington University Online High School (GWUOHS) Class of 2025 celebrated their high school graduation. Their achievements were honored by family, friends, and faculty during the graduation ceremony.
Graduate Esther T., a member of the National Honor Society and a leader of the Peer Mentor Program, delivered a welcome address during the online ceremony, emphasizing how the act of learning never ends but continues for the rest of one’s life.
“From our first day at GWUOHS, we committed ourselves to the art of learning, both subject matter and how to learn online,” she said.
Associate Head of School Dr. Maria Coyle encouraged the Class of 2025 to honor the graduation ceremony as “a moment of joy, reflection, and pride” during her opening remarks.
During the ceremony, history teacher Dan Kelly and lead academic adviser Krista Wyatt presented graduates Jon G. and Aimeé N with the GWUOHS Leadership Award. Jon, who founded the Stock Market Game Club and was vice president for the Debate Club, and Aimeé, who was Student Council president, were recognized for taking the lead in various roles and positively impacting the GWUOHS community through innovative ideas. Graduate Jihee K. was honored with the Community Values Award for her contributions to GWUOHS and for serving “significantly, responsibly, and respectfully in a global society.”
Lead college counselor Lisa Bell praised the Class of 2025 for the work they demonstrated in their Capstone Projects, culminating final projects developed throughout the spring semester in which seniors must apply their knowledge to learn a new skill or solve a real-world issue.
“Your presentations were extremely well done and reflective of the hard work you devoted to these projects,” said Bell.
Graduates Teo S., Layah F., Martin B., and Melissa O. each received awards for their Capstone Projects.
Members of GWUOHS’ NHS chapter were recognized for their many involvements beyond academics.
Jihee served as a student speaker at the ceremony. She was a member of NHS, an AP Scholar, founded the GWUOHS Psychology Club, served as an ambassador for the World Embassy, and led the Mental Wellness Club, Global Café, and Peer Mentor Program. In her speech, Jihee expressed her gratitude for the GWUOHS global community and the faculty that supported her and her peers.
“We built friendships across time zones. We became experts at navigating virtual classrooms and technical challenges every day. We got used to deadlines and learned to balance intense workloads without the bells of a traditional school to guide us. While others had locker chats, we had Skype messages and the K12 Zone. Instead of cafeteria lunches, we shared breakout room laughter and homeroom huddle memories,” said Jihee.
Jihee closed her speech by encouraging her fellow graduates to remain strong and ambitious as they embark on their next journey.
“We are not just a graduating class, we are architects of our own stories. So, let’s keep building, let’s keep daring, let’s keep reaching for the stars because while this chapter of our high school closes, the bridge to our future is only just beginning,” Jihee said.
Following Jihee’s speech, diplomas were presented to the Class of 2025. Graduates were honored with personalized slides decorated with childhood photos, future plans, and favorite quotes.
“This quote was due at 11:59 p.m. too,” graduate Amanda N. had written for her quote, referencing the relatable student experience of submitting assignments at the deadline.
Following the presentation, Aimeé, the moment of acknowledgment speaker, delivered a speech filled with appreciation for the GWUOHS faculty and her gratitude for her fellow graduates.
“Thank you to my fellow students, the heart of this institution. Thank you for being yourselves, for making friends and trying new things, for studying and laughing and being passionate about what you love, for being uniquely you, and most importantly for sharing that uniqueness with all of us. You are the vivid soul of our school,” said Aimeé.
Head of School Alison Mistretta concluded the graduation ceremony by officially declaring the Class of 2025 as graduates.
