By Lisa Pillivant
WARWICK, NY – Under sunny skies and with proud families looking on, Warwick Valley High School celebrated the graduation of 317 seniors on Saturday, June 28, marking the official commencement of the Class of 2025.
The ceremony opened with a warm welcome from Principal Georgianna Diopoulos, who led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the school’s Meistersingers for a moving performance of the National Anthem. In her remarks to the graduates, Diopoulos reflected on the personal growth and perseverance that defined their high school journey.
“Each of you arrived at this moment after years of dedication, growth, resilience—and yes, possibly a bit of procrastination,” she said with a smile. “Through late nights of studying, early mornings of practice, and countless moments of friendship, you’ve not only earned a diploma—you’ve built a foundation for your future.”
Diopoulos then introduced Salutatorian Gisela Gujar, who surprised the crowd by quoting hip-hop artist J. Cole instead of a traditional philosopher or politician.
“In his song Love Yourz, he says, ‘There’s no such thing as a life that’s better than yours,’” she told her classmates. “In a world that normalizes comparison, we must remember the strength it took to get here—the assignments we finished while juggling responsibilities, the moments we showed up when we felt defeated.”
Gujar emphasized that it’s not achievements or acceptance letters that define a meaningful life, but the quiet resilience behind every step. “No award ever recognizes it—but it deserves to be recognized.”
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Education, President Keith Parsons—also the proud parent of graduate Caidyn Parsons—spoke about the bittersweet passage of time.
“We’ve watched you take your first steps, get on the bus, face your first setbacks, and celebrate your triumphs,” he said. “The days go slow, but the years go by so very fast.”
Valedictorian Evan Grundfast followed with a mix of humor, gratitude, and reflection. “I think we can all recall walking into a test we didn’t study for, or pulling an all-nighter to make up work we procrastinated for weeks,” he said. “But perfection was never the goal—persistence was. This ceremony is not our magnum opus, but a celebration of all we’ve endured, and all that’s still to come.”
Class-elected Senior Speaker Kayla Bele encouraged her classmates to embrace both ambition and presence. “Whether you’re heading to college, the trades, Broadway, or just taking a breath—you’re not alone,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”
Superintendent Dr. David Leach delivered the final keynote address, inspired by Frank Sinatra’s iconic “New York, New York.” Following a recent Yankees win, the lyrics reminded him of the graduates’ readiness.
“You’ve already made it—here, in Warwick,” he said. “In classrooms, on fields, on stages, through setbacks and triumphs. Because of that, you’re ready to make it anywhere.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, each graduate was invited to select a faculty member to present their diploma—a beloved WVHS tradition. Guidance counselors Mary Fox, Julie Sekelsky, Ray Mark, and Nick DiLeo proudly presented the Class of 2025, which was officially accepted by Dr. Leach.
Musical performances throughout the ceremony were provided by the Warwick Valley High School band, under the direction of Megan Shafer, and the Meistersingers, directed by Noreen Hanson.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
The following students are in the 2025 Graduating class from Warwick Valley High School:
