Superintendent Hill certified that members of Lanphier High School’s Class of 2025 met graduation requirements set by the state of Illinois and Springfield School District 186 and recommended that the board award diplomas to the graduates.

The certification came during the school’s commencement at the BOS Center, where student speakers delivered remarks, the ceremony recognized three students who are joining the U.S. armed forces and the audience observed a moment of silence for a classmate, Samara Lawson.

“As superintendent of Springfield Public Schools District 186, I certify that these graduates have fulfilled the graduation requirements of Springfield Public School District 186 and the state of Illinois. And I hereby accept this class of 2025 and recommend that they be awarded their diplomas,” Superintendent Hill said at the ceremony.

Valedictorian Maddie Marshall spoke to classmates before the formal certification, telling fellow graduates, “Congratulations to the class of ’25.” Her remarks and those of other student speakers focused on perseverance, community and next steps after graduation.

The program named the district’s top 10 students and recognized three graduates who have enlisted in the military: Carter Tucker, United States Marine Corps; Marquise Dumas, United States Army National Guard; and Cameron Warfield, Air National Guard. Ryan Maroney, a student speaker, asked the audience to pause for a moment of silence to honor Samara Lawson.

The transcript of the ceremony records Superintendent Hill’s verbal certification and recommendation. No motion, board vote or additional administrative action on the certification was recorded in the transcript provided.

School and district officials will follow the district’s administrative process to issue diplomas; the transcript does not record any contested discussion or a separate board vote on the awarding of diplomas.