This was Elkins High School’s 126th Commencement Ceremony. Speeches were given by valedictorian Lucas Robert D’Angelo and salutatorian Amy Dong.

In her speech, Dong spoke on the importance of people in the graduates’ lives and on the impact the community as a whole has had on the graduates.

“Students of Class of 2025, take a look around at those in the crowd and sitting beside you,” Dong said. “I know that for many of you here, you’re eager to leave and explore the new chapters in your life, but let us all never forget the people who have impacted our lives and our home, which will leave an impact on us forever.”

D’Angelo, in his speech, advised his fellow graduates that love is more powerful than hate.

EHS Class of 2025 Valedictorian Lucas D’Angelo addresses his fellow graduates.

“If this is the last time any of you guys hear my voice, let me leave you with some final advice,” D’Angelo said. “Don’t be afraid to love everyone. The more hate we carry in our hearts, the heavier it weighs on ourselves. So let go of the weight that hate carries with it.”

The top 10% of graduates in the Class of 2025 included Isaac Dean Anger, Darby Denmark Bailey, Gianna Grace Backus, Ava Marjory Barger, Madeline Paige Belan, Karah Nicole Bennett, Addyson Grace Cogar, Erin Laine Collins, Malia Faith Cooper, D’Angelo, Hannah Faith Davis, Dong, Madalynn Elizabeth Ferguson, Layla Denise Fletcher, Preston James Herron, Bryer Nicholas Mallow, Miles Briggs Maynard, Logan Marie Nixon, Alexis Noel Schauman, Cathrynne Rose Tenney and Levi Alan Workman.

The graduating class included Damien Malichi Amos, Isabelle Torres Brito Andrade, Isaac Dean Anger, Sara Ann Marie Ankney, Elliott Clay Arbogast, Rhyleigh Jordan Arbogast, Tyler James Arbogast, Taylor Adrianna Arnold, Gianna Grace Backus, Darby Denmark Bailey, Orion Dale Barb, Ava Marjory Barger, Madeline Paige Belan, Malachi Jerome Belton, Alexander James Bender, Corinne Allana Bennett, Karah Nicole Bennett, Mallory Faith Bennett, Thomas Lester Benson II, Andrew James Bibey, James Lee Blantch, Kenna Jo Bodkin, Tyler Dixon Boehmer, Wesley Anthony Bond, Hunter, Joseph Bonnell, Hannah Madelynn Bonnett, Nicholas Todd Bowers, Elizabeth Rose Brake, Thomas Joseph Brenwalt, Megan Jessica Bright, Gavin Lawrence Brown, Zoey Leeann Canfield, Nicholas Joseph Carpenter, Alexis Jade Carr-Bennett, Calib Jackson Chidester, Addyson Grace Cogar, Landon B Coleman, Erin Laine Collins, Joseph Eugene Conti Jr., Malia Faith Cooper, Gabriella Mary Elizabeth Corley, Morghan James Elizabeth Cox, Briauna Lane Crawford, Hanna Marie Crites, Haileigh Grace Cross, Alissa Lea Cunningham, Logan Matthew Cunningham, Lucas Robert D’Angelo, Travis Zane Daniels, Hannah Faith Davis, Khyra Rachelle Davis, James Johnathan Dean, Jonathan Richard Delphey, Joshua Michael Delphey, Mason Edwin Digman, Amy Dong, Haylie Ann Doyle, Emilee Jayde Ends, Samuel Kenneth Farr, Alessondra Bethe Ferguson, Madalynn Elizabeth Ferguson, Layla Denise Fletcher, London Cambre Frame, DeMarcus James Franklin, Braedan Sands French, Andrew Jace Friedman, Jaida Brooke George, Jordan Marie Gibson, Benjamin Cooper Gilmore, Alyssa Catherine Glasgow, Ellyse Spencer Goddard, Madison Brooke Godwin, Garret Lee Goff, Gracelyn Kay Gooding, Catcher Douglas Goodwin, Jaden Alexander Grey, Alyssa Skylar Jayde Haddix, Kenton Bryce Haddix, Aaliyah Marie Haden, Emma Rose Hale, Elliot James Harper, Anthony William Hedrick, Chloe Annalyse Helzer, Cayden Abraham Hensley, Preston James Herron, Katherine Helen Hinchman, Andrew Jacob Hinzman, Dylan Chase Hinzman, Ethan Edward Hinzman, Olivia Grace Hinzman, Max Jacob Howell, Allison Faith Huffman, Cody Wayne Hutson, Carlee Jade Isenhart, Emory John Jack, Cherokee Montana Jackson, Dominic Douglas Jenkins, William Casey Jones, Chase Everett Kelley, Cordell James King-Morton, Braxton Ryan Lee Kittle, Joseph Isaac Kresch, Aiden Joshua Lambert, Alyssa Lee Lambert, Leah Jeanette Lonergan, Brooklyn Jade Long, Kaylin Rae Long, Donald Wayne Louk, Zahra Sue Loutfi, Lauren Darlene Luffman, Kayden James Maddy-Gouer, Bryer Nicholas Mallow, Harley David Massey, Robert Andres Masten, Chance Michael Mayle, Miles Briggs Maynard, Christopher Adam McCauley, Kalaeb Gabriel McCauley, Bayleigh Rose McCombs, Addison Michelle Caroleine McDonald, Quincy John Miller, Reba Shyla Moore, Noah Alan Morales, Isabella Ivy Mullennex, Logan Marie Nixon, Ella Grace Ours, Giovanni Shi Painter, Emma Marie Parlock, Grace Elizabeth Parsons, Jailyn Meadow Pauley, Abigail LeighAnn Pennington, Hannah Marie Phillips, Kaden Grant Phillips, Ethan Dale Plum, Kali Marie Plum, Paige Sierra Poe, Lynlee Rae Price, Nevaeh Marie Riddle, Rori Michelle Riddle, Riley Douglas Rider, Joshua Matthew Rivera, Matthew Dylan Ross, Emily Lynn Rowan, Triston Andrew Rudloff, Cooper Anthony Ruud, Ricardo Sanchez, Kyra Saige Sauerwein, Alexis Noel Schauman, Gracie Ann Scott, Christopher Dashon See, Lauren Tate Selders, Branson Leland Shaffer, Kaden John Sharp, Daniel Wyatt Sherman, Bryleigh Myriacle Shiflett, Kyle Richard Shreve, Ayden Michael Simmons, Chloe Elizabeth Simmons, Derrick Duane Sizemore, Cecil Edward James Slaubaugh, Brennen Lee Smart, Damian Ethan Smith, Hannah Paige Smith, Emery Brice Snodgrass, Scott Allen Stark, Aaron Blake Stevens, Jacob Lee Stokes, Colby Brandon Story Jr., Kelly Marie Suarez, Abbigail Nicole Swecker, Jordon Scott Swecker, Jaylen Rose Tacy, Madison Kathleen Taylor, Cathrynne Rose Tenney, Makayla Alease Thompson, Braxton Emanuel Leroy Thorne, Kelsey Faye Tincher, Ethan Loren Verga, Levi Scott Wanless, Kruize Nathaniel Ware, Skylar Paige Warner, Nicole Lea Watson, Dakota Zin Weese, Isaiah Michael White, Kaley Grace White, Zoey Madison White, Hannah Lillian Rose Williams, Jaden Anthony Williams, Madison Brooke Wimer, Grace Ann Winans, Chloe Grace Workman, Levi Alan Workman, Aidan James Wright and Tiffany Jean Young.

The graduates celebrate the end of the ceremony with cheers and confetti.