Colonel Richardson High School hosts 64th commencement ceremony

Colonel Richardson High School hosted its 64th commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The ceremony was held at 6 p.m. in CRHS’s auditorium with a large crowd of proud parents and loved ones of graduates, as well as school faculty, Caroline County Board of Education members, and community members in attendance. The size of this year’s graduating class even necessitated overflow seating, where attendees could watch a livestream  of the event elsewhere in the school building.

The prevailing theme of the evening was time — how the challenges the graduates have faced have heightened their appreciation of it, how they have spent it thus far in their lives, and what they will do with it in the future.

Class of 2025 Salutatorian and Class Spirit Officer Kelly Harding led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance after the procession of the graduates, and the CRHS band played an arrangement of the National Anthem.

CRHS Principal Jared Sherman opened with a welcome speech geared towards humility. He quoted Martin Luther King Jr.; “‘if a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'” Sherman told the graduates that the point was “no matter the job title, status, or salary — if you do it with pride, excellence, and purpose, you are great.”

Class of 2025 President DyAsia Thompson gave a tearful address to her fellow classmates, saying, “the bonds we formed and the memories we’ve created will last a lifetime, and I am beyond grateful and proud of each and everyone of you.” Later on in the ceremony, Thompson performed a symbolic passing of the flag to the Junior Class President, Violet Cheezum.

The keynote speaker, Ms. Danielle Dennis, was introduced by 2025 graduate Dominique J. Caven. Caven gave insight into the personal connection that Ms. Dennis shares with the Class of 2025, “Ms. Dennis is important to the graduating class because she is always there for every single one of us and she shows up for us whenever she can… She shows everyone that they are important to her every chance she gets.” Dennis is an algebra teacher and track coach at CRHS and was named Caroline County Public School’s Teacher of the Year for 2024 - 2025. She noted that she had many of the current graduates as students as early as middle school and moved up to high school with them.

Her message to the graduates was one of personal gratitude and mentorship. “ I returned to teaching because of you. After teaching you in sixth grade, I left the profession with no intentions of returning. But after a lot of reflection, I realized I never left because of the students placed in my classroom and ultimately decided to return because of you. Now I stand here today… thanks to the influence that you all had on my career and life.” She went on the give three last pieces of advice to the Class of 2025, “It’s okay to change course… Every decision is one that will be lasting – good and bad… Treat everyone with kindness and a smile.”

“You have the power to change this community, this state, this country, and this world. You already made my life better by being in it, go do the same for others. I love you all,” she concluded.

Principal Sherman announced this year’s Governor’s Award recipients, which “earned a cumulative average within the top 5% of their graduating class.” Those recognized were Adan Alvi, Alyssa Bradley, Wilson Clough, Olivia Ferris, Kelly Harding, Vanessa Odidika, and Madison Shufelt.

Wilson Clough and Kelly Harding were named CRHS Class of 2025’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. During Clough’s address to the graduating class, he stressed the importance of time. “At this point in our lives, time has become our most valuable commodity after we leave tonight, it is up to us in deciding how we choose to spend it.” He told a lighthearted personal anecdote in relation to CRHS’s band director, Mr. Cheezum, who told a middle-school-aged Clough “not yet” when he was caught messing with the high school band equipment.

This “not yet” became symbolic of how the adults in the lives of the graduates have given them the tools to succeed in due time, “ the doors to success that we open are constructed by those in our lives who want to watch us succeed. They give us opportunity, knowledge, hope, guidance, comfort and care that we used to progress our lives in the way we see fit.” “Don’t stop looking for doors,” Clough said.

Prior to the presentation of the graduates and conferring of diplomas by CRHS Senior School Counselor Jennifer Reed (who was coincidentally celebrating her own birthday while celebrating the graduation of her beloved students), CCPS Superintendent Derek Simmons and Board of Education Member Chrissy Bartz gave their remarks to the Class of 2025. Bartz, a proud product of CCPS herself, said she “can’t help but hope that some of you will one day find your way back here too.” Dr. Simmons said, “ time will not just pass you by – it will either propel you forward or pull you back.”

Of CRHS’s 143 graduates, 60% are moving on to higher education through a college, university, trade school, or other institution. They were collectively awarded over $2.5 million in scholarship funds. Three students were recognized by Dr. Simmons for having officially made commitments to join the United States Military: Christopher Rockwell, Jr., Ziy’Aira Hudson, and Paris Henry.

After the diplomas were awarded, Class of 2025 Vice President Cameron Todd gave a closing address, quoting his own source of inspiration, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.’ This feels especially true in this moment… I encourage you to take a moment to look around and truly enjoy it so that you don’t miss it.”

Finally, other senior class officers and graduates Adan Alvi, Cohen Carels, Aydan Downie, and Carly Van Schaik led the turning of the tassels. The graduates gathered their belongings and exited the auditorium the way they came, only this time as CRHS alumni, with their final instructions from Principal Sherman to “approach your work like Michelangelo painted, Beethoven composed, and Shakespeare wrote. Do it with skill, passion, and integrity,” fresh in their minds.

The following is the complete list of CRHS Class of 2025 Graduates:

Austin Nethaniel Abrams, Aydan Michael Downie, Alejandro Antonio Alfaro Cruz, Dominic Adam Dunn, Adan Rasool Alvi, Gracee Olivia Dyes, Nevaeh Rayne Anderson, Marvens J Elie, Kaleb Allen Andrews, Faith Elizabeth Englert, Aqib Ashraf, Zoey Renee Errickson, Stevens Austinville, Mason Maddox Evans, Alexis Nicole Beebe, Olivia Lou Anne Ferris, Duilio Dealessandro Berduo-Morales, Olivia Faith Fishell, Alyssa Cienna Bradley, Jaiden Ernest Blaine Fitzroy, Collin David Brewer, Ja’Aron Albert Alonzo Fletcher, Stacy Anie Brutus, Jazelle Layla Fletcher, Tracy Arlie Brutus, Lillian Sue Foster, Cohen Alan Carels, Paola Nicolle Fuentes-Colchado, Jaden Trace Carr, Joseph Mason Gardner, Catherine Jean Casey-Motley, Jonathan David Giuliano, Angel Castro-Rios, Colton Sawyer Griep, Dominique Joseph Caven, Ricardo Guerrero-Juarez, Dylan Matthew Cecil, Alaina Glory Hall, Jerimiah Anthony Chalmers, Ani’Jah Unique Hammond, Addison Lee Claytor, Tarron Marquis Hammond, Wilson Robert Clough, Kelly Lynn Harding, Shawn Michael Collins Jr., Tyler Mason Hare, Ally Beth Conde, Taylor Eden Harper, Brandon Preston Copper, Hailey Elizabeth Hauf, Heavyn D’Ivory-Joyce Corsey, Tanner Reid Hauf, Kailey Nicole Cummings, Paris Inea Love Henry, Da’nae Angela Davis, Keimyah Audrina Henry-Merritt, Montana Marie Davis, Rebecah Herisse, Yusef Morgan Demir, Zachary Aaron Hill, Jeremiah David Desire, Ziy’Aira Nakiye Hudson, Jonah Romel Desire, Jean Elihu Hyppolite, Yastine Dona, Luna Abril Infante Reyes, Jayla Rena Mae Douglas, Ericka Va’che Jackson, Kaleb Robert James, Mason Jax Rackley, Khazina Jawad, Yuli Anna Ramirez-Seth, Danika Jeanty, Jordan Nicholas Regulski, Henry Lee Johnson IV, Kylie Lynn Rhinehardt, Eamere Louis Jones, Hannah Alexis Star Rice, Stephanie Joseph, Takaila Marie Rich, Dakota Orion Kahler, Jaylen Daevion Ricks, Michaela Aaron Kording, Preston William Rickwood, Lillian Nicole Kruger, Gabriella Faith Riggin, Nicholas Cole Larmore, Makiah Jalae Roberts, Aubrey Hannah Lindner, Taijh Makai Rochester, Lillian Lister, Christopher Lee Rockwell Jr., Reese Caroline Mangum, Elyza Rose Rodriguez, Joshua Alejandro Mejia Sauceda, Della Delora Anita Roe, Claudia Louise Merrick, Monae Faith Ross, Andres Ysidro Morales Jr., Aiden Matthew Russell, Kyelie Renee Morrison, Samantha Amber Schreiber, Anabel Munguia Matamoros, Oktober Rayne Schultz, Ashley Nicole Murphy, Destineé Elizabeth Seal, Damein Ahmad Murray, Madison Elizabeth Shufelt, Zyion Maurice Newbill, Landon Christopher Somerville, Ka’Nasha Lasha Nichols, Savannah Renee Staford, Vanessa Kelechi Odidika, Cortez Julian Stanley, Tynasiah Nikierra Parker, Tyaira Tremaya Thomas, Trynton James Parks, DyAsia Surae Thompson, Chaney Sara Paul, Taylor Elizabeth Thorpe, Harrison Thomas Pearce, Cameron Neal Todd, Lucy Jane Pearce, Landon Nathan Todd, Kallie Rose Peele, Viergena Toussaint, Ronaldo David Perez Rivera, Jarrod Carter Lee Turbitt, Miriam Janeth Perez-Bravo, Carly May Van Schaik, Brian Jason Perez-Morales, Justin George Wallace, Brandon James Phelps, Ryann-Rae Elizabeth Watchous, Ryleigh Lynn Porter, Haylyn Karleigh Webb, Gavin Michael Weiss, Summer Marie Willey, Thomas Anthony Wenger Jr., Tybria Ciara Williams, Madison Sharee Weston, Lindsay Nichole Wood, Zakiya Andrea White, and Rebecca Taylor Wroten.