Kennedy High School’s Class of 2025 was celebrated on the school field on June 8 amid a sea of Cougar green pomp and circumstance.   

Ahead of the ceremony, members of the U.S. Marine Corp. Color Guard presented the flags, followed by senior chorus members serenading the crowd, under the direction of Rachel Shapiro. 

Board of education trustees Janet Goller and Gina Piskin were on hand to celebrate the graduates, as was Eric Gomez, assistant superintendent of personnel. Members of the Cougar TV crew taped and livestreamed the ceremony. 

Valedictorian Mark Prainito and salutatorian Jayden Simon addressed the crowd.  

Prainito spoke about how, as humans, we crave meaning and try to make sense of things. 

“Some of us found meaning in art, in sports, in volunteering, or in quiet moments of self-discovery,” he said. “Because the real lesson, I think, isn’t just about what we were taught. It’s about the fact that we learned to make meaning for ourselves. We learned to pay attention when something felt interesting or personal to us.  

He stressed that “understanding doesn’t always come right away.” 

“You don’t have to understand everything at once,” Prainito added. “But when something does matter to you, when it clicks and truly moves you, make sure you lean into it. That’s where meaning begins.” 

Simon recanted on his time at Kennedy.  

“We are a community, cemented forever through the care, kindness and fun we have had during our time together. We are a community of helpers, thinkers, innovators and collaborators,” he noted. 

Simon added that it was this “strong support system and foundation” that helped him and his peers “overcome any challenge.” 

“We have developed inside jokes, and we each have our own moments that have defined our lives here. It is that love and happiness in our own, individual journey that is the true success that will allow us to move forward and to embrace the new experiences to come.” 

Click here to view a gallery of Kennedy Graduates Class of 2025 photos.