OH Class of ´25 celebrates, reflects at graduation

A hot, packed arena with 710 graduates and thousands of family members, friends, staff, and administration watched the OH graduates on Sat. as the Panthers celebrated the Class of 2025. 

As it has for many years, OH graduation took place at the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Convention Center on May 17 with Principal Grays and Superintendent Andalib Khelghati presiding over the event. 

In his address to the attendees, Principal Grays was very proud of this class even if they “forgot about things like the dress code on days like Halloween,” which elicited laughter from students and attendees alike. 

OH graduating senior Ella Stoller also spoke during the ceremony, speaking about celebrations, highlights, and struggles that she and the Class of 2025 all had to go through, making specific reference to the passing of fellow senior Sean Fader, but how they “all got through it together.” 

Through the ups and downs of students´ years at OH, they all had memories to share as they prepared to walk across the stage for their diplomas. 

As graduates lined up prior to the graduation ceremony, graduating senior Nathan Barry reflected on his years at OH. “My four years at OH have been very impactful on me,” Barry said.  “I learned a lot of valuable lessons and most importantly, I learned more about myself.”

Barry added that he “will miss OHS because it helped me grow as a person.” 

Many students agree that their time at OH had a great impact on their lives. But some students think it was so much more upon reflection at graduation. 

“My years at OHS were a lot of different things,” said graduating senior and former 42Fifty Managing Editor Jessica VanVooren. “I have explored a lot of my passions throughout the four years, [and] I really found my passion for engineering, which is what I’m going into.” 

In addition to her field of study, VanVooren “also found some hobbies that I’m really passionate about. For example, I took quite a few art classes, and I got very, very invested in journalism, so there are a lot of fun things. Honestly, I just had such a great time.” 

But other than all the classes and hobbies, graduates found in high school they also discovered something more: a sense of community. 

“The community is great,”said graduating senior George Victory. “The teachers, everybody I loved, everything about it, it was a family. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The seniors at OH had a lot to say about their four years, but as they realized their time in the hallways, classrooms, and athletic areas of OH were finally and truly done, many reflected on things they would also miss. 

“I’m gonna miss the people,” said graduating senior Owen Dougherty. ¨The amount of people I’ll probably never see again sucks.”

Like Dougherty, graduating senior Jonnie McCall said it would be the people that he will miss the most.

“I’ll miss the people and the friends I’ve made along the way at OH, and only some of the teachers,” joked McCall. 

As they awaited graduation in the convocation center, seniors also gave tips and advice to the next class of students on the best ways to live their years at OH. 

“Do everything you can,¨ said graduating senior Ben Simmons. “Join all the clubs, do all the sports. Because you have four years. Just do what you can do!” 

Some seniors, like Jorden Rodriguez, gave serious life advice, and said, “Don’t listen to people’s words and stereotypes. Don’t let them stop you from finding your true passion.” 

But all the seniors agreed the best advice was to capture the moment, as many did during the hour of lining up prior to the ceremony, in the underbelly of the NIU Convention Center, and while seated on the floor of graduation, waiting for the roll call of names.

“Get a Polaroid. Take pictures of you and your friends and the things you do,” said Dougherty, who owns several Polaroid cameras of vintage design. ¨The memories I’ve made this year with my cameras have been amazing. 

As the graduates reflected on their final moments at OH Panthers, nostalgia for the high school days was already apparent. 

“Take advantage of every opportunity you have,” Victory added. “Like this senior year? I really just tried to hang out, [and] anytime my friends wanted to go hang out or [had] any plans, I just said yes.” 

”I didn’t care if I was tired, and I didn’t care if I had stuff the next day,” Victory said as he prepared to walk onto the convention floor and graduate. “These are memories you’re making that will last forever.”