South High School held its 13th annual commencement at Cheyenne Frontier Days, where school and district leaders, student speakers and the Laramie County School District #1 board of trustees recognized the Class of 2025 and said the graduates had met district and state requirements to receive diplomas.

The ceremony combined traditional elements — a JROTC color guard, the national anthem sung by the South High choir, and student speeches — with recognitions for academic achievement and military‑connected students. "It is a great day to be a bison," Principal Carrie Gentry said as she welcomed graduates, staff and guests. Gentry identified two empty chairs and presented an honorary diploma on behalf of a graduate who was not present.

Why it matters: the district board explicitly certified that the class had met the requirements of Laramie County School District #1 and the state of Wyoming and indicated it was ready to grant diplomas. The ceremony also signaled the district's ongoing role in credentialing graduates and highlighted student achievement and community traditions.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Newton introduced the Laramie County School District #1 board of trustees and addressed graduates on service and choices. "Serve wisely. Serve well. We will be cheering you on every step of the way," Newton told the class. Board members present (Chairman Alicia Smith, Vice Chairman Christy Clawson, Treasurer Bridal Ashby, Assistant Treasurer Marilyn Burden, Clerk Brooke Humphrey, Assistant Clerk Renee Hinkle and Trustee Barb Cook) were recognized on stage.

Principal Gentry called attention to ceremonial elements and student honors: the POW chair and two empty seats reserved in remembrance, and a purple cord worn by graduates who are military children. She asked Paul Weatherford, identified in the ceremony as a teacher, to accept an honorary diploma on behalf of Amari Maidens, who was not present. The program also noted a new cord tradition acknowledging students who attended South Triad Elementary and Junior High and described other staff recognitions.

Academic and service honors cited during the ceremony included 20 students identified as having earned GPAs in the 4.0–3.75 range and seven National Honor Society students reported as holding a 3.5 GPA or above. A student speaker, Miss Delaney, urged graduates not to give up: "the biggest decision you must make before you even begin is that you will never give up," she said. Student speakers Hannah Fisher and Aiden Cabrera reflected on the balance between ambition and growth; at one point they said, "The journey and the destination together tell our story."

The ceremony concluded with customary traditions: a seniors' ritual the program called the "bison swag," the changing of the tassel led by student body president Deanna Davis, and the formal presentation of the class for diplomas. Superintendent Newton formally presented the graduating class to the board, saying the cohort had met district and state requirements and was "ready to receive their diplomas." Board representatives then accepted the presentation and indicated they were prepared to grant the diplomas.

Details of timing, total number of graduates and specific diploma issuing procedures were not specified during the ceremony.