AHS principal Romeo Bourdage welcomed graduates and their loved ones to the ceremony held at Wildcat Stadium.

“As our graduates anxiously await the signal to enter the field, I would like to give a special thank you to the parents who have allowed me and the staff of Alpena Public Schools to work with your students as we all helped give them a little push into their future endeavors,” Bourdage said. “Because of your love and support, you have provided them with a solid foundation for the first quarter of their lives from which they will only grow and prosper.”

The graduates walked in pairs to their seats to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Family and friends in the audience cheered as their graduates entered the stadium.

Joseph McEwen, an AHS graduate committed to joining the United States Armed Forces, led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance along with his brother Jacob McEwen, who is an officer in the U.S Navy.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg The Alpena High School Concert Choir sings “I Lived” by OneRepublic, arranged by Jacob Narverud at the Alpena High School graduation on Sunday.

Next, Melody LaCross and Anna Noble sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Bourdage thanked the members of the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education for being there, as well as those who helped plan and run the commencement ceremony.

The senior video played, which captured the senior class in special moments throughout their final year of high school. The video was created by the senior planning team. Bourdage publicly thanked Madison Shearer, Kameryn Rouse, and Nadia Renauer for putting together the commencement program.

The Alpena High School Concert Choir sang “I Lived” by OneRepublic, arranged by Jacob Narverud as a tribute to the Class of 2025.

As the song ended, Bourdage invited student speaker Lilian Spigelmyre to the podium.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Kameryn Rouse speaks to Alpena High School’s 2025 graduates on Sunday at Wildcat Stadium.

Spiglemyre began by thanking all the staff at AHS and parents for putting up with the students, she said humorously.

“It’s bittersweet to be standing here today, knowing we’re finally closing the door on high school, stepping into the terrifyingly unfamiliar world of adulthood, sad to leave happy memories and childhood bliss behind, but ready to take on the future and the rest of our lives,” Spigelmyre said.

Rouse was the second student speaker.

“High school was a very diverse experience for all of us, I’m sure of that,” she said. “For some, the road was smooth and paved, but for others, like me, there were a few bumps, or even full-blown pot holes in the road. Regardless of how difficult it was for you to get to this point, I see you.”

“I’m so excited to see all of you flourish outside of high school,” she continued. “Regardless of whether we’ve crossed paths many times or even just once, you have been a part of my life in one way or another, and I want to thank you for that.”

Rouse’s speech ended to a round of applause from the audience.

The Class of 2025 chose Dean of Students Eric Mitchell as their faculty representative speaker.

“I’m still not 100% certain why you selected me for this great honor, but I have a couple guesses,” he said. “At 33 years old, I am not the person to tell you how to live your life … there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to life.”

“Rather than spending the next few minutes telling you my keys to a happy and successful life, I’m gonna do the teacher thing where I ask a question and make you think about it… the question is ‘who do you want to be, not what do you want to be.'”

Mitchell described to the graduates the difference between happiness and joy, how happiness is susceptible to outside forces while joy comes from within.

Mitchell spoke from the experience of slacking off as a freshman in high school, to finding joy in being a husband and father today.

He advised graduates to intentionally choose the path you walk, develop grit, and be intentional with your relationships.

Bourdage recognized the top 10% of the Class of 2025, and explained the different cords, stoles, and medals that the graduates wore.

Finally, the moment that the graduates had long been waiting for came to be. Each graduate walked across the stage to receive their diploma to cheers from their loved ones in the audience.

This year, the graduates of AHS chose navy, lavender, and peach as their class colors and lily of the valley as their class flower.

Their class song was “Slipping through my Fingers” by ABBA, and their class motto was the quote “Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory,” said by Dr. Seuss.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.