Cumberland International Early College High School confers diplomas on Class of 2025

Cumberland International Early College High School held its 2025 commencement ceremony where student leaders, district officials and family members gathered to recognize the graduating class.

Student body president Lana Drawhorn opened the program, welcoming attendees and listing school and district leaders in attendance. "I am honored to welcome you to the 2025 commencement ceremony," Drawhorn said.

The ceremony featured multiple student speakers, including senior class president Nia Spence, who told her classmates, "We made it," and urged graduates to carry their community and resilience forward. Students Soraya Oda, Carmen Wiley and Eden Farrell offered international greetings on behalf of the school.

Carmen Lanae Wiley was introduced as valedictorian and Aaliyah Simone Johnson as salutatorian. The program recognized graduates with Latin honors: the ceremony named students graduating summa, magna and cum laude; examples announced included Nia Spence listed among those graduating summa cum laude and Carrington Cochran among those listed magna cum laude. The school also asked families to hold applause until all names were called to ensure each graduate's name could be heard.

Kevin Teal read the list of graduates, after which an official pronouncement was made. "By the power vested in me by the Cumberland County Board of Education, I now pronounce the class of 2025 graduated," an official declared.

The ceremony emphasized the early-college structure of the school and the persistence of students who navigated COVID-era schooling and other challenges during their high school years.

After diplomas were conferred, graduates were invited to turn their tassels and celebrate with family and friends.

Details such as total class size and number of graduates with each honor were not specified in the public remarks recorded in the transcript.