By Caroline Weier
The blended sound of music and rhythmic claps filled the air as hundreds of Roseville Area High School graduates wearing black and silver processed down the aisles of the Roy Wilkins Auditorium on Sunday afternoon.
The downtown St. Paul ceremony honored 530 students, with a full audience of faculty and staff, families and community members in attendance. The annual event featured student speakers, staff reflections and recognition, celebrating the journey that defined the Class of 2025’s experience at RAHS.
Following an opening land acknowledgment from Principal Jen Wilson, the Rosetown American Legion presented a display of flags as the high school band, led by Ian McKnight, performed the national anthem.
The ceremony continued with a student body welcome by Max Czeck, a RAHS senior and descendant of the Red Lake Nation, an Ojibwe tribe in northern Minnesota. During his remarks, Czeck reflected on his time during high school and left graduates with a message of encouragement, advising students to harness their fear and newfound freedom to find what ignites inspiration.
“Whether you are choosing to be in the trades, college or go straight into the world, we are moving forward,” Czeck said. “But before we can do that, we must look and ask, ‘Who do we want to be?’”
Wilson returned to the podium to thank teachers, staff, school board members and district leaders before reflecting on the Class of 2025’s journey and sense of purpose.
“Roseville Area High School class of 2025, the world is waiting and it needs exactly who you are,” Wilson said.
RAHS senior Madisen Lo took to the stage to deliver the first of two commencement speeches, sharing a message of resilience and authenticity, while the RAHS Good Pellas Group, an audition-based a cappella group under the direction of Kellen McMillen, prepared to sing “Landslide.”
As the music faded, Wilson returned to present and give the special academic recognition to students in the top 1 percent of the graduating class. Qualifying students received an academic honor medallion presented by Associate Superintendents Delon Smith and Melissa Sonnek, before joining the rest of the graduates for the final commencement speech by senior Francesca Geffre.
Geffre reflected on the bittersweet finality of high school and importance of living in the moment, as graduates prepared to receive their diplomas.
“Whatever your future holds, I hope you reflect on your time in high school to realize that life moves fast,” Geffre said. “Don’t take your time for granted, live in the moment, say yes to all those new adventures and know that even after you’ve walked across this stage, you’ll always be a Roseville Raider.”
Roseville Area Schools Superintendent Jenny Loeck stepped forward to deliver a message of reflection and encouragement, urging graduates to “take a breath, soak in the moment.”
Carrying forth the sentiment, graduates rose from their seats and marched across the stage, one by one, receiving their diplomas and stepping into a new chapter of their lives.
With applause fading, senior student council officers and members guided the class of 2025 through their final rite of passage: turning their tassels and tossing their caps into the air, marking the end of their time at Roseville Area High School.
The ceremony followed three days after Roseville Area Schools’ Fairview Alternative High School’s graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Aŋpétu Téča Education Center Gymnasium in Roseville.
The school, which offers a progressive, flexible learning atmosphere tailored for students who may not thrive in more traditional settings, celebrated the graduation of 33 students from the class of 2024 and 2025.
The commencement, marked by speeches from teachers, staff and students, included themes of perseverance and gratitude. Speakers reflected on the challenges students faced on their journey and the immense strength cultivated along the way.
“We’ve faced challenges, celebrated successes and grown in ways we never imagined,” student speaker Leonna Slaughter-McCaskel said. “Each of us has a different story, but today we share a common achievement.”
The ceremony highlighted student-chosen staff tributes, personal stories of transformation and over $7,500 in scholarship awards.
As the final moments unfolded, the room erupted in applause as graduates proudly turned their tassels, then rushed to embrace classmates, family and friends. While the FAHS class of 2025 celebrated their achievements, another group of learners reached a significant milestone of their own.
Earlier in the day, the Roseville Adult Learning Center, a district program that supports adult learners in earning their high school diploma, GED or improving English and career skills, held its own graduation ceremony at the Aŋpétu Téča Education Center Gymnasium to honor this year’s graduates.
The ceremony recognized 42 graduates, many of whom balanced work, family and education on their path to achieving the milestone. Cheers and excitement filled the gym as each graduate crossed the stage and received recognition for their hard work and persistence.
Across the district, the week’s ceremonies celebrated not only academic milestones, but also the determination and success of students from all walks of life—each crossing the stage by a different path, united by a shared achievement.
Links to each ceremony can be found here:
Fairview Alternative High School:
Roseville Area High School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwh57YKMR1o
Roseville Adult Learning Center:
Top photo caption: Graduates celebrate their graduation at the end of the ceremony. Photo Courtesy of Roseville Communications.
