A record class of 480 Rome High School seniors walked the stage at Barron Stadium Saturday morning, flashing big smiles, giving out hugs, and some wiping away a few tears as the Class of 2025 officially graduated.
The class filled a large portion of the turf at Barron Stadium, and after the students and faculty made their way to the seats on the field, they were welcomed by several speakers.
Bo Bushnell, the senior class president, waved both of his arms in the air as he spoke.
“Just look around you. This is all for us,” he said, motioning to the capacity crowd sitting in the bleachers and lining the fence at Barron Stadium. “We’ve all worked hard to get here, so take a moment to soak it all in.”
Members of Rome High’s Choir sang a medley of two inspirational songs, mixing “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules” and “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s “Moana”. The songs not only celebrated the graduates' journeys but also looked forward to their future beyond high school.
Salutatorian Sam Hard talked about how much impact words can have on people.
“As we sit and reflect on our achievements and on the power of words, we must remember the words that have been said to us and the impact they have had on our lives. I know I will remember the words of wisdom and encouragement from my teachers, the words of love and comfort from my family, and the words of joy and kindness from my friends,” he said. “These are the truly important words. These are the words that have the power to make someone’s day or put a smile on someone’s face. These words, the ones of kindness, compassion, and love, are the words we will remember for years to come.”
He told a story about how four simple words from a fellow classmate sparked a deep friendship, and said he hopes that everyone will use the positive power of words in the future.
Valedictorian Liliana Cantrell talked about how graduates are entering the world at an interesting time and implored her fellow graduates to not only chart their paths but to do it in a way that helps.
“Don’t underestimate what you can bring to the table. Intelligence and boldness can be great personal qualities, but if they aren’t balanced by empathy, the actions that spring from them may sometimes result in callousness or cruelty, whether intended or not,” she said. “You, though, can be part of something bigger—an empathy force multiplier that ripples far beyond what you’ll ever see. One act of cruelty can echo—but a million small acts of empathy can drown it out. I encourage you all to lead with empathy. Build with it. And inspire it in others through the witness of your actions.”
She ended her speech with a special note to parents.
“A special thank you to all the parents here today. I hope you know how deeply grateful we are. Your love, sacrifices, and steady presence are the reasons we’ve made it to this moment,” she said. “Yes, we are the ones graduating, but we are able to do so because we are standing on your shoulders.”
Rome High Principal Parke Wilkinson presented the Principal's Award to Elise Wooddell and Aaron Lewis, while Rome City School Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland presented the Superintendent’s Award to Lilana Cantrell and Bo Bushnell.
After the 480 students crossed the stage, all of the students and faculty linked arms while singing the alma mater before almost 500 hats were tossed in the air in celebration of their graduation.
The number of graduates broke the previous record, set last year. The class as a whole received more than $12 million in scholarships and had many individuals win local, state, regional, and national awards during their high school careers.