Olathe East High School held its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 at the school stadium, where administrators, school board members and student leaders led the program and the superintendent conferred diplomas.

Assistant Principal Craig Taylor opened by introducing dignitaries including Dr. Brent Yeager, superintendent of Olathe Public Schools; Dr. Jill Smith, assistant superintendent for elementary education; and board of education representatives Becky Johan and Dr. Stacy Jurkovich. Students performed the pledge of allegiance (led by senior class treasurer Grace Springer) and a senior quartet sang the national anthem.

Principal Carrie Lane thanked school staff and the district service center and introduced student speakers and honorary student presenters. The ceremony recognized top scholars by cumulative GPA for seven semesters and included remarks from student speakers Hannah Lavender, Adam Hagan and senior class president Dylan Gilbo. Dr. Yeager declared the graduates to have met graduation requirements “by the authority of the powers delegated to the superintendent by the Kansas State Board of Education and Unified School District 233 Board of Education” and conferred diplomas.

After the conferral, the school asked families to remain in the stadium while diplomas were distributed on the soccer field to graduates only over the following 30 minutes. Students were instructed to move tassels from the right to the left as the formal marker of graduation and the class closed with the Olathe East fight song.

The ceremony combined ceremonial formalities (pledge, national anthem, diploma conferral) with student reflections and recognitions of academic achievement. No formal votes or policy decisions occurred during the event.