Dr. Brent Yeager, superintendent of Olathe Public Schools, formally conferred diplomas on members of the Olathe North High School class of 2025 during the school’s commencement ceremony May 17 at the CBAC stadium.

Principal Jason Herman opened the ceremony by asking families and guests to honor each graduate and said, “Commencement is a formal ceremony. It is a ceremony in which every parent deserves to hear his or her graduate's name read,” and later told graduates, “you're in high school once, but we will be Eagles forever.”

The ceremony featured student speakers who emphasized belonging and perseverance. AC Zimmerman, introduced as a senior speaker, told classmates that “confidence in oneself is not about fitting in. It's about being authentic.” Sofia Salazar and senior commencement speakers Jalen Watson and Sarah Imad Abunahya spoke about identity, shared community and looking ahead; Abunahya urged classmates not to forget one another, saying, “Don't move on. Remember the people around you.”

The graduating class was notable for its diversity and achievements. Administrators said the class represents families from 24 nations listed in the program, and the school noted graduates were offered more than $20,000,000 in scholarships. Olathe North also recognized 13 students tied for the top-10 academic rankings and asked honorees from groups such as National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and language honor societies to stand.

Retirements and staff recognition were part of the program. Principal Herman named a group of retiring educators and staff, including Jackie Glover, Lou Anne Fox, Sarah Hansen, John Lane, Lori Lutenegger, Rhonda Ryst, Wendy Robinson, Rich Sula, Heather Smith and others; he said those retirees “have accumulated 242 years of service in the educational system.” The ceremony also singled out district operations staff and long-time CBAC operator Sean Brumbaugh for recognition.

Yeager read the formal acceptance on behalf of the administration, citing powers delegated by the Kansas State Board of Education and Unified School District 233 to confirm that students who met graduation requirements would receive diplomas. Faculty members then read the roll while graduates collected diplomas onstage.

Practical announcements after the ceremony asked families to pick up diplomas on the soccer field and requested that the stadium be cleared within 30 minutes. The administration closed the program with the school alma mater and a final round of congratulations.

Speakers and participants named in the program and transcript included school and district leaders, student speakers and staff members recognized during the ceremony. The program emphasized the class’s academic, athletic and arts achievements and listed the countries represented by the senior class.