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Elmwood Park High School presents diplomas to Class of 2025 at outdoor commencement
Summary
Elmwood Park High School held its Class of 2025 commencement outdoors, with school leaders, student speakers and diploma conferral; ceremony was photographed and recorded for later release.
Elmwood Park High School held its 2025 commencement ceremony outdoors to celebrate members of the graduating class, with school leaders on stage, student speakers and a formal diploma conferral.
The ceremony featured remarks from Dr. Amanda Bridal Rico, principal of Elmwood Park High School, and Dr. Leah Gocce, superintendent of Elmwood Park CUSD 401, and included musical performances by the school choir and band. Dr. Bridal Rico welcomed graduates and families and noted the graduates’ achievements. Dr. Gocce told graduates, “I’m proud to stand on the stage and say congratulations to the class of 2025.”
School officials announced logistical details at the start of the program: photographs of the ceremony will be available in about seven to 10 days on the SmugMug photo website, and a recording of the ceremony will be posted on the district’s YouTube channel. Attendees were asked to remain seated and to hold applause until all graduates’ names were read.
Board of Education member Frank Parisi, speaking on behalf of faculty, certified that students “have successfully completed their course of study prescribed by the State of Illinois and the Board of Education,” and presented the class for diplomas. Student speakers included the salutatorian, Mary Catherine Kiakos Medrano, and the valedictorian, Natalia Rosalia Chura, who reflected on the class’s shared experiences and urged classmates to keep moving forward.
The program also recognized academic categories such as the top 10% of the class and Tiger Scholars and concluded with the traditional tassel turn to signal graduation. Photographs and the event recording will be available for families and the public as announced by the district.
