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Tumwater School District certifies Black Hills High School Class of 2025 at commencement
Summary
Superintendent Kevin Bogatin presented the Black Hills class to the Tumwater School Board and certified that the seniors met graduation requirements set by the district and the state of Washington; speakers and staff were recognized and students were urged to keep learning.
At the 2025 Black Hills High School commencement, Superintendent Kevin Bogatin presented the graduating class to the Tumwater School Board of Directors and certified that the students had met graduation requirements set by the Tumwater School District and the state of Washington.
Bogatin, identified in the ceremony as superintendent of the Tumwater School District, urged graduates to “say yes” to new opportunities and to connect with others. “Say yes to coffee with someone you don't know very well,” he said during his brief remarks.
Principal Dave Myers opened and moderated the ceremony and recognized school staff who are retiring or leaving, including Jody Halterman, Tommy Halterman, Keith Mitchell, Kathleen Alvear, Christina Berry, Marcy Hubbard, Whitney Thompson, Dave Haywood and School Resource Officer Detective Ross Rollman. Myers also led recognitions for graduates heading straight into the workforce, four-year and two-year colleges, the military, and first-responder training, and noted students who earned college credits or an associate degree while in high school.
Student speakers emphasized lifelong learning and resilience. Class speaker Lorena Slaughter reflected on stages of schooling and urged peers to “never stop learning.” Another class speaker, identified as Krista (Christa) Skinner, thanked teachers and encouraged graduates to hold onto relationships as they leave high school.
The ceremony included musical performances by the Black Hills band and the Advance Choir directed by Kathleen Alvear, the faculty speaker Ann Gore's remarks about returning to school as an adult student, and the formal moving of the tassel by senior class officers Logan Larson and Emma Goheen, which concluded the event.
The presentation by the superintendent served as the occasion for formal certification to the board; the transcript does not record a separate board vote on the certification.
Listed graduates were read individually during the ceremony; the full list was included in the transcript provided by the school.
