Graduation like every year, comfortably filled the roundhouse, with seating options left in very limited amounts. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

With the timeless tune Pomp and Circumstance playing, the STC Class of 2025 processed into the roundhouse. On Sunday, May 18, 89 students became graduates of the South Tama County School District.

With the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, the ceremony began. Outgoing high school principal Robert Boley, who has taken a new position as superintendent of schools with the Pocahontas Area Community School District, welcomed the public and thanked the high school staff.

“I would like to thank you for the past three years. Working with each of you has meant something special to me. Thank you,” he said.

Boley also gave a special thank you to his secretary Julie Brezina before moving onto his remarks directed at the senior class.

In a similar fashion to his remarks to the class of 2024, Boley gave the students one final assignment. With red roses in the hands of the graduates, Boley explained the task.

High School Principal Robert Boley, thanked students and staff for his time shared with them over the past three years. Boley also left behind one last lesson of gratitude for the community as his tenure comes to an end. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

“I would like you to reflect and think about the one individual who has been there for you during this experience. The one person that has always been in your corner, cheering you on…Today your final assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of what gratitude means to you. I am asking you to do this by presenting the rose that you were given as you entered and presenting it to the one person who has helped you reach that milestone,” he said.

With many tears shed, hugs given, and memories made, the class of 2025 presented their roses to their most impactful loved ones.

After recognizing students graduating with honor (gpa of 3.50-3.74) and distinction (gpa of 3.75 and above), Boley announced Kylie Husak as Valedictorian and Daniela Barrientos-Herrera as Salutatorian.

Husak’s Valedictorian speech centered around perseverance, dealing with failure, and the future.

“Perseverance is a sacrifice. It requires us to acknowledge what is good for us, what is worth it. It is something different to each of us,” she said. “It is different every day, but I am confident through what we have learned through these past fourteen years and what we will learn in the future that we will achieve anything we set our minds to because we have acquired the skill of perseverance.”

Belle Johannsen was all smiles, walking across the stage to be awarded her diploma from her mother, Kelle Johannsen. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

Jerome Kapayou was voted on by his peers to be the class speaker for the class of 2025. Taking the podium and smiling, Kapayou delivered his address. Mentioning the good times and what he’ll miss, Kapayou ended on a positive note.

“The only thing I have left to say is it’s been a pleasure to be with you all and it’s been fun. Have a spectacular Sunday Trojans,” he said.

With some laughs from the audience and a big round of applause, the ceremony continued on.

Year after year, a teacher is selected by the graduates to give a speech at commencement. For South Tama, that honor has been filled year after year by Emily Chyma.

Chyma has a special skill of incorporating relevant topics into her speech and this year was no different, joking about AI throughout the duration of her speech. Having it write a beautiful introduction for the speech, before delivering her message.

Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Taylor Brown (left) and Josey Wacha (right), smile and laugh as Wacha leaves the stage and enters into the next chapter of her life. PHOTO BY JONATHAN MEYER

“This class is anything but AI generated. Seated before us are unbelievably talented artists and actors who decorated our halls and caused us to laugh and to cry during their performances. We already have, in this class, welders, truck drivers, and students caring for our elderly citizens and working on their clinicals to be future nurses,” she said. “This class also gifted our ears with their musical talents both instrumental and vocal. You are so amazing in so many unique ways.”

Superintendent John Cain then certified the graduates before diplomas were handed out. A longstanding tradition at STC is that students choose who hands them their high school diploma. This year was no different, with many staff members being chosen to hand the class of 2024 their diplomas. Dixie Forcht read the graduates names, and each graduate and a staff member of their choice shared a special moment in front of the community.

The class of 2025 excited the STC Roundhouse as “28” by Zach Bryan played. With cheers and smiles, to crying and hugging, this year’s graduates have started the chapter, having earned a South Tama County High School Diploma.