L.D. Bell presents diplomas to Class of 2025; salutatorian and valedictorian urge graduates to take risks

L.D. Bell High School presented its Class of 2025 — described by school officials as 754 candidates for the diploma — at a commencement ceremony that included awards, national recognitions and speeches by the salutatorian and valedictorian.

The ceremony, held by the Hurst‑Euless‑Bedford Independent School District, featured several academic honors (including College Board recognitions and National Merit acknowledgments) and a reported scholarship total of $25,200,000 for the class. Salutatorian Nathan Nam Lum and valedictorian Ryan Brooke Ingram each delivered commencement addresses urging classmates to support one another and to embrace risk in their next chapters.

Nathan Nam Lum, introduced by Principal Randy Belcher as the class salutatorian, told graduates: "We endured. We survived." He closed by urging students to act: "Go be the change you want to see in our world." Ryan Brooke Ingram, identified as the class valedictorian, focused on creativity and risk, saying: "So be afraid of the blank page, sure. But be excited too" and, later, "Never be afraid to color outside the lines." Both quotes are from their remarks during the ceremony.

The program included College Board National Recognition Program honorees and National Merit recognitions. The transcript identifies National Merit Finalists Jonas Evans, Ryan Gough, Ryan Ingram and Andre Popovich among the students recognized. The school also named multiple National Merit Commended Scholars and recipients of other national recognitions.

Principal Randy Belcher presented the class "for confirmation of their diplomas," according to his remarks recorded in the transcript. The transcript does not record a formal board vote or a separate roll call adopting the diplomas during the ceremony.

Assistant Principal Julie Watson announced College Board recognition honorees and guided portions of the program; other district leaders and trustees were listed onstage, including Superintendent Dr. Joe Harrington and members of the Hurst‑Euless‑Bedford ISD Board of Trustees. Senior class president Ebenezer Yeboah opened with a welcome and a brief address to classmates, ending, "Don't be a stranger."

The school identified the top graduates and their immediate plans during the ceremony. The transcript records salutatorian Nathan Nam Lum's stated plan to attend Harvard University and major in human developmental and regenerative biology on a pre‑med track. Valedictorian Ryan Brooke Ingram announced plans to attend Columbia University to major in drama and theater arts. Reported GPAs for the two, as read by school staff during the program, were 5.31 for the salutatorian and 5.37 for the valedictorian. The program also listed the top 10 graduates by rank and GPA and named many individual graduates by reading their names aloud.

The principal said the class had earned more than $25.2 million in scholarships; the transcript gives that figure as $25,200,000. The transcript also includes a statement about post‑graduation plans that is internally inconsistent: it says, "Of this number, 88 plan to continue their education at colleges, universities, or trade schools," then references "8%" headed to the workforce and "4%" entering military service. The transcript does not clarify whether the "88" refers to 88 students or 88 percent of the class; that point was not specified during the recorded remarks.

There were no formal motions or votes recorded in the transcript excerpt provided. After the final announcements and presentation, the ceremony concluded with instructions for graduates to retrieve diplomas backstage.