Though the weather was unseasonably cool, hearts and fellowship warmed the Notre Dame HS auditorium for the class of 2025 commencement May 31. The ceremony was brief, but centered on choice memories of top students and a parade of individual awards and accomplishments.

Principal Jaclyn Friel addressed her graduating students whimsically, recalling private jokes and dispensing proud well-wishing. “I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it in the week or month or so, but everything is about to change for you. Your friendships will change, your relationships with your family will adjust, and your relationship with Notre Dame will shift from you being a student to you being an alumni. It’s an awesome club that you are very lucky to be a part of.

“In Catholic education we strive to form the whole person, mind, body and spirit. The formation is evident in each of you: You’ve shown resilience in the face of challenges, compassion for one another, and a deepening understanding of your purpose in this world. You’ve served others, lived out your faith and carried Christ with you in the classroom, on the field, in this auditorium and beyond.”

Salutatorian Sarah Zambo thanked her parents for their support and encouragement in all things from science fair project help to sports, and said her sisters have been her biggest role models and inspirations who pushed her to succeed.

“I know many of us have been very eager to graduate because of the excitement that lies ahead,” she said, quoting a famous line from Fleetwood Mac about the fear of change, “but some of us are probably nervous to leave behind everything we have here. I know I am. As I reflect back on the last four years I’ve spent here, I realize that all of my favorite memories – like THON, prom and even daily chats at my lunch table – weren’t my favorite because of the event itself, but rather because of the people I experienced them with.

“From big events to small gestures, these people and memories will stick with me forever.”

Zambo related many stories of faculty asking the whereabouts of her near-inseparable friend Emily and inquiring about her well-being and mental health. She said the students’ shared experiences have forged bonds that will remain long after high school.

“From the friends we walked in with four years ago to the ones we’ve made in the last few months, each has helped influence who we have become, whether it was helping somebody with homework, offering someone a ride or letting someone lean on you at 3 a.m. at THON, these small acts of kindness have left a lasting impact.

“No matter what path we choose when we leave, our time at Notre Dame will always be a part of us. Remember it’s not always about academics or events, but rather about the people who stood behind us, supported us and pushed us to grow.”

Valedictorian Madeline McLouth also thanked her parents, telling them, “This honor belongs to you as much as it does to me.”

At first, she said, she hadn’t known what to speak about on this big day. “I realized all those people that warned us in the beginning of freshman year that four years here would fly by were completely right,” she said. “As cliché as it sounds, I remember freshman year as if it was yesterday, being yelled at by Mrs. Vaca for going up the wrong stairs and rushing off to be late to Mr. Fenton’s room. I felt like I had all the time in the world and now I’m standing here wondering how high school could go by so fast. When you’re standing in the middle of it you don’t always realize you’re standing in a moment you’ll miss one day.”

McLouth continued, lamenting the passage of each year. “There’s this tendency we all have to rush toward the next thing. We keep saying, ‘I can’t wait. I can’t wait for summer. I can’t wait for graduation. I can’t wait to drive. I can’t wait for college.’ I even caught myself saying ‘I can’t wait to get this speech over with.’ But in doing that we sometimes forget to appreciate what is happening right now.” Some day they will miss the moments, she said. “Right now is the moment we can appreciate while we were still living in it, so if there’s one thing I hope we all carry with us from Notre Dame, not just into college but into life, it’s the ability to notice moments while we’re still living in them. Don’t wait until they’re over to realize how much they meant, because the truth is we hardly know we’re in the good old days until they’re already past.

“Thank you Notre Dame for being a part of my good old days and congratulations class of 2025.”