The Southern York County School District formally certified members of Susquehannock High School’s Class of 2025 as graduates during the school’s commencement ceremony, and ceremony organizers said the class received more than 200 scholarships and financial-aid offers totaling nearly $10,000,000.

"Now by the authority bestowed upon me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Education as superintendent of the Southern York County School District, I declare you officially graduates of the Susquehannock High School," said Dr. Robert Bryson, superintendent of the Southern York County School District, who made the certification on stage.

The certification signifies that, according to the superintendent’s announcement, students have met the credit and other requirements set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the district. A ceremony host announced that scholarship offers and financial-aid awards to members of the class exceeded 200 separate awards and totaled nearly $10,000,000.

Ceremony remarks and recognitions also noted graduates who plan to enter the workforce immediately after graduation and those who have enlisted in the U.S. military; attendees were asked to stand when those groups were recognized. The event included addresses from the class valedictorian, Vicky Chen, and salutatorian, Jaden Clapsaddle, both of whom reflected on change, perseverance and next steps after high school.

Alumna Bethany Miller, the school’s distinguished alumni speaker and the sports director at WGAL, returned to address graduates and urged them to take opportunities and "be curious," advising students to "ask the hard questions." The class president, Gary Rodriguez, was absent because he was ill; his message was read to the audience.

Principal Dr. James Sterner and other district and board leaders joined superintendent Bryson onstage for diploma distribution. The ceremony included music recorded earlier by the school’s band, choir and orchestras and concluded with the formal turning of tassels and the playing of the alma mater.

The announcement of certification and the scholarship totals came during the formal commencement program; the district did not provide a separate public breakdown of how the scholarships were awarded or the sources of the funds during the ceremony.

Diplomas were distributed and student names were read aloud during the ceremony.