[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[5:06] I am Dr. Elizabeth Wilson, the proud principal of Round Rock Early College High School, and
[5:11] it is my honor to welcome each of you to today's class of 2025 commencement ceremony. Please
[5:19] remain standing, if you would please join me in standing first.
[5:27] Please remain standing
[5:29] for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by ECHS Seniors, Sammy Meary and Naomi Nathan, and
[5:34] the National Anthem performed by ECHS Seniors, Evan Pena and Samira Wiggins.
[5:40] I
[5:45] pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for
[5:50] which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
[5:57] Now remain standing for the Texas Pledge.
[6:01] Honor the Texas flag.
[6:03] I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, indivisible.
[8:09] You may be seated.
[8:10] it.
[8:12] Thank you, Sammy, Naomi, Evan, and Samira.
[8:17] Realm Rock Early College High School began in 2016.
[8:23] And today, we are pleased to celebrate our sixth graduating
[8:27] class.
[8:37] Given their dedication, determination,
[8:40] along with the support from parents, families, teachers,
[8:44] professors, friends, and school community,
[8:46] the class of 2025 has reached this exceptional milestone
[8:51] of high school graduation today.
[8:55] 87% of the seniors sitting before us are now college graduates
[9:01] with their Associate of Arts degree in General Studies,
[9:05] or are the first in our ECHS cohort to graduate
[9:09] with their Associate of Science degree in General Studies.
[9:13] and
[9:22] all of our seniors are well on their way with at least 30 hours of college
[9:27] credits they have earned over the past four years.
[9:37] The seniors within this
[9:39] graduating class of 2025 have been accepted into universities throughout the
[9:45] country and have been fortunate to receive numerous scholarships. In total
[9:51] To date, the ECHS graduating class of 2025 has been awarded $2,672,514 in scholarships.
[10:10] Congratulations for a job well done.
[10:14] It is now my pleasure to introduce our esteemed guests.
[10:19] Please stand as I call your name and audience please hold your applause until all names
[10:24] have been called.
[10:25] President of the School of
[10:25] Education.
[10:26] Brown Rock I S. D. Superintendent
[10:28] of Schools Doctor Haffed Aziz,
[10:31] Brown Rock I S. D. Board of
[10:33] Trustees, Tiffany Harrison
[10:35] President, Alicia Markham Vice
[10:38] President, Amber Landrum
[10:40] Secretary, Choe Zerate,
[10:43] Trustee, Melissa Ross,
[10:45] Trustee, Amy Weir, Trustee,
[10:48] and Dr. Michael Way,
[10:50] executive leadership team, Dr Natalie Nichols,
[10:54] senior chief of schools and innovation, Dennis Covington,
[10:58] chief finance officer, chief operations officer, Anastasia Drabicki,
[11:04] chief of public affairs and communications, Cindy Heal,
[11:09] general counsel, Eddie Curran, chief human resource officer,
[11:13] Donald Bruton, chief technology officer, Karen Gray,
[11:17] of Access and Opportunity, Ryan
[11:21] Urutia, Chief of Police,
[11:25] Central Administrative Staff,
[11:28] Dr. Patricia Eflin, Area
[11:29] Superintendent of the Stony Point
[11:31] Learning Community, Dr.
[11:32] Mya Mercer, Area Superintendent
[11:34] of the McNeil Learning
[11:35] Community, Dr.
[11:36] Zach Odom, Area Superintendent
[11:38] of the Westwood Learning
[11:39] Community, Dr. Nancy Guerrero,
[11:41] Area Superintendent of the Cedar
[11:43] Ridge Learning Community, Dr.
[11:45] Dr. Logan Farris, Area Superintendent of the Round Rock Learning Community, Dr. Byron
[11:50] Gerard, Area Superintendent of Student Support Services, Rodrigo Pertilio, Assistant Superintendent
[11:58] of Academics, Diane Folletto, is Associate Director of Marketing and Engagement, and
[12:04] Blanca Valencia is our principal for Success High School.
[12:07] Can you please give them a round of applause?
[12:17] There's a team that supports all of our graduations and we would like to just
[12:21] thank our district staff, definitely Stephanie Cheatham, Betty Joe Byrne and her team as
[12:27] well. Thank you for your support to all of those who are on the dais as well as those
[12:33] in the audience. Thank you for your support of our students and families at Early College
[12:37] High School and within Round Rock ISD. We also have Austin Community College team
[12:43] members who are here with us. Representing today are Jason Sanchez, Director of High
[12:49] school programs, enrollment and partnership, if he would please stand. And we also have
[12:55] Devin Miller, who is our Interim Director of Academic Success, College and High School
[13:00] Relations. We can give them a round of applause.
[13:09] Without doubt, we must acknowledge our early
[13:11] college high school staff for all of their hard work and their dedication to our students.
[13:16] Would all of our ECHS teachers and staff please stand to be recognized?
[13:35] Thank you.
[13:37] We would also like to acknowledge our previous ECHS staff who are with us on this morning.
[13:44] If you are a previous ECHS staff member, can you also please stand to be recognized?
[13:58] We would like to acknowledge our ECHS PTSA board president, Mrs. Lynch, as well as
[14:05] our treasurer, Mrs. Reese, for their unending support of ECHS students and staff.
[14:11] Can you please stand to be recognized?
[14:13] In
[14:22] addition, on our PTSA side, the team that supports, we would like to do a special acknowledgement
[14:29] to Mr. and Mrs. Illich and the WD Kelly Foundation for all of their support of the ECHS school
[14:37] community.
[14:38] Can you please stand?
[14:47] I'm always thankful for my entire supportive village, and that includes my parents,
[14:51] my siblings, my best-goodest friend, my nieces and nephews, and today, of course,
[14:57] I have to acknowledge my sweet mom.
[15:00] Who is here? So Dr. Velma Wilson, would you please stand?
[15:11] Finally, we must thank our senior class parents for their love, their support, all of that
[15:18] which you have provided for your students as well as the partnership with Early College
[15:23] High School. Would the parents of our seniors please stand to be recognized?
[15:41] Thank you
[15:42] all for being here and making a difference in the lives of our students in the class
[15:47] of 2025. Now with opening remarks, please join me in welcoming our student council
[15:53] president Truman Hamade.
[16:10] Howdy everyone, and good morning. I'd like to give a warm
[16:17] welcome to our guests, faculty and staff, proud parents, and most importantly, the
[16:24] graduating class of 2025.
[16:32] Thank you for being here to celebrate this
[16:34] significant milestone of ours.
[16:36] My name is Truman Hamadeh, and I'd like to start off by saying
[16:39] what an incredible honor it's been to share this journey
[16:42] with all of you over the past four years.
[16:46] During our time in high school, you may have known me as a friend,
[16:50] entrusted me to be class president,
[16:52] or even voted to make me your prom king.
[16:55] For every laugh, every conversation,
[16:58] every unforgivable experience we shared,
[17:00] I'm deeply grateful.
[17:03] I truly believe there couldn't have been a more talented, more interesting, and more extraordinary group to be alongside during those moments than y'all.
[17:16] Soon we'll all be heading down our own paths, each one far too unique and exciting for me to try and sum up here.
[17:23] Believe me, I tried.
[17:27] Yet, despite the diverging roads that face us, there's an underlying principle that they all hold the same.
[17:33] To illustrate this shared inevitability, I'd like to bring up some wise words from another
[17:40] handsome president named Truman.
[17:46] Now on President Harry S. Truman's desks, there was a little sign which read, the buck
[17:51] stops here.
[17:53] It proudly sat on the desk of him throughout his entire presidency.
[17:58] This age-old saying signifies taking full ownership of your actions and the consequences
[18:04] they carry. The plaque served as a powerful reminder that he accepted
[18:09] ultimate responsibility for all decisions, refusing to pass that buck of
[18:14] accountability to anyone else.
[18:19] Crossing this graduation stage right here marks
[18:22] our step into a world where the choices we make are entirely our own. A world
[18:28] that won't let you put that massive responsibility on anybody but yourself.
[18:33] self. But even as you carry that weight, I want you to know that the path you walk will
[18:39] never be a lonely one. Whether it's your parents, your teachers, your friends, or anyone who's
[18:46] had your back, all these years, someone will always be in your corner. So keep going, keep
[18:54] fighting, take the time to celebrate how far you've come, cherish the memories, hug
[18:59] your parents and hold those diplomas up high, as well as those associate's degrees,
[19:06] because
[19:07] you've earned it.
[19:09] I can't know for sure what life will take us, but I'm certain of this.
[19:14] Each and every one of you is capable of something incredibly special.
[19:19] Wherever you go from here, I just want you to remember, the buck stops with you.
[19:26] Thank you.
[19:38] Thank you, Chairman.
[19:40] I'm Helen Holmes. It is my honor to recognize the achievements of the senior
[19:44] class of 2025. Your program explains the meetings of the Stoll, Stoll's collars
[19:50] and cords of distinction worn by our students today. Students donning a
[19:55] white Stoll and white tassel have completed an associate of arts degree
[19:58] in general studies and students wearing a white Stoll and gold tassel have
[20:03] completed an associate of science degree in general studies for Mossden
[20:06] Community College, both rigorous degree plans. Please stand to be recognized as an associate
[20:12] of arts degree graduate.
[20:18] Please
[20:28] stand to be recognized as an associate of science degree
[20:31] graduate.
[20:42] Please stand to be recognized if you are graduating core complete at Austin
[20:46] Community College.
[20:58] Please stand to be recognized if you have earned 30 or more college credits.
[21:03] Thank you.
[21:14] We commend our honor graduates who have achieved a 4.0 or higher. Please stand
[21:19] to be recognized as an honor graduate.
[21:33] Thank you.
[21:37] National Honor Society members please
[21:39] stand.
[21:47] Thank you.
[21:51] Our National Merit Commended Scholars for the class of 2025 please stand
[21:55] to be recognized.
[21:58] Siri Bandem and Barat Sachdeva. Thank
[22:07] you.
[22:10] We acknowledge our National African
[22:11] American, First Generation, Hispanic, Indigenous and rural small town scholars. Please stand
[22:18] to be recognized as National College Board Scholars.
[22:31] Thank you. It is now my pleasure
[22:33] to introduce our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Angelica Ross, to present our top 10 graduates.
[22:38] At
[22:46] this time, we recognize our top 10 graduating seniors.
[22:50] As I call your name, please stand and remain standing until all have been recognized.
[22:56] We also invite your parents and family members to stand and remain standing when your name
[23:01] is called.
[23:02] Number 10, Gwendolyn Hannah.
[23:11] Number 9, Oz Dykeman.
[23:20] Number 8, Truman Hamade.
[23:28] Number 7, Madison Kim.
[23:30] number
[23:36] six Matthew Illian number
[23:44] five Sophia Reese
[23:51] number four Usman Khan number
[24:00] three Siri Bandem our
[24:08] early college high school salutatorian is Sarah Zavalletta
[24:12] our
[24:20] valedictorian for the early college high school class of 2025 is Christine
[24:25] Gibson you
[24:43] may be seated you
[24:48] may be seated thank you
[24:55] since starting four
[24:59] Four years ago, the class of 2025 has provided campus support, commendable volunteerism, and
[25:07] service on behalf of themselves, their classmates, ECHS students, and this school community.
[25:15] Our class of 2025 has dedicated over 3,991 hours of service to our community.
[25:23] Their
[25:32] individual and collective efforts have been purposeful, impactful, and have made
[25:37] a difference.
[25:39] The Class of 2025 is a group of achievers.
[25:42] The enrichment clubs and initiatives they have started both inside and outside of school
[25:48] reflect their creativity and have enhanced our campus culture, built school voice
[25:54] and advocacy and demonstrated the importance of service to others for future graduating
[26:01] classes. Even with the huge focus and commitment to academics along their path, this class
[26:09] of 2025 has still given back to the ECHS school community. Seniors, you have served
[26:17] as examples, mentors, friends for our ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders. You have been
[26:25] leaders, tutors, and representative voices. Jane Goodall said, what you do makes a difference,
[26:34] and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. We believe you will make
[26:43] make a positive difference, given the outstanding work you've done within the early college
[26:48] high school community. As you continue on this journey, your inner circle may change
[26:55] over time. However, please remember that your parents love you. They will always be your
[27:02] biggest advocates and supporters. I must also acknowledge all of the teachers, once again,
[27:09] the staff, professors, and administrators that began with you and have supported you,
[27:16] instructed, advised, and cheered you on all along the way. We look forward to
[27:22] seeing what you will do and all you will become. We believe that each of you
[27:28] can help positively impact and change this world for the better. With
[27:34] As graduation comes responsibility, to whom much is given, much is required.
[27:42] As I have shared with our previous graduating classes, we welcome you to become part of our
[27:48] Early College High School Alumni Association.
[27:52] For everything that has been poured into you, my closing request is to pass it on.
[27:58] Give it back and share about your experiences.
[28:02] Thank you so much for joining
[28:02] me in this session.
[28:02] Ladies and gentlemen, please
[28:04] join me in saluting the
[28:07] Round Rock ISD, excuse me, yes,
[28:10] and early college high school
[28:12] class of 2025.
[28:26] The next part of our program
[28:28] will be class messages.
[28:30] The first message is from the
[28:32] salutatorian of the early
[28:33] college high school class of
[28:38] to the podium.
[28:48] Hello class of
[28:48] 2025 and welcome family and
[28:50] guests. Congratulations everybody
[28:52] we made it. It is my honor to
[28:54] speak as our class
[28:55] salutatorian. I would like to
[28:57] thank God for all the amazing
[28:58] people he's put in my life these
[28:59] past four years. People like my
[29:01] parents for their loving
[29:02] guidance my sisters Rachel and
[29:04] Natalie for always keeping me
[29:05] grounded and my classmates who
[29:07] became very close friends
[29:09] Rebecca, Rachel, and Naomi. You guys are the reason I loved coming to school. My
[29:14] kindergarten teacher came to watch me graduate today, so a huge thank you and
[29:17] shout out to Ms. TJ. You started my educational journey.
[29:25] Just like every
[29:26] senior here, 13 years ago, we walked through our kindergarten classroom doors
[29:30] and this morning we're all sitting here together graduating high school. Our
[29:34] ECHS staff has always cheered us on. Thank you to every teacher and
[29:38] administrator for your help and support. I would like to specifically thank Mr.
[29:42] Kuba check for teaching us seas get degrees coach Meyer for being an amazing
[29:47] listener and pals teacher miss Picasso for being the sweetest teacher I ever
[29:51] had and an awesome Zoom instructor miss Holmes for being my strongest advocate
[29:56] during college admission season and of course mr. Clint skills for
[30:00] We are truly caring and pushing us all to succeed.
[30:02] Mr. Clint Scales gave us many bits of wisdom, or as some of us call them, rants and avid.
[30:08] He said, when we graduate and move to college, we have the opportunity to reinvent ourselves,
[30:12] because no one will know us when we leave ECHS.
[30:15] I think the idea of reinventing ourselves is inevitable.
[30:19] We have so many more life experiences ahead of us.
[30:21] Since our kindergarten years, we've given up on some silly ideas, and with some humility
[30:26] and wisdom were likely to change some of the silly ideas we have here today.
[30:30] One thing I hope we don't reinvent is our love-hate relationship with the portables
[30:33] that allowed us all to become closer as friends. Our class of 2025
[30:37] is the largest class to graduate ECHS. There are many things
[30:42] that make our class special, but here are the stories I'll be telling my college friends.
[30:46] We were the last class to have shown up literally before the sun freshman year,
[30:50] so nobody signed up for an 8am lecture. One of my favorite memories
[30:53] memories is learning that playing volleyball at lunch can actually be quite dangerous.
[30:57] I know we all remember the portables and people we hit. If I remember right, three of them
[31:01] had to go to the dentist. I'm so sorry. And of course, the portable culture that
[31:06] banded us all together. The pipe that burst, the skunk under the girls bathroom, and running
[31:11] through the rain and hopefully not slipping on portable ramps. And I hope we all remember
[31:15] and cherish the memories we made at our senior prom. Everyone here is so proud
[31:20] of us for making it to graduation. I know I had senioritis this last semester, as did
[31:24] most of us. Some of us even had those freshmen, but we made it to graduation, which is a huge
[31:29] accomplishment. The seniors here are some of the most dedicated 17 and 18 year olds
[31:34] in our district. Four years ago, we started our journey of getting an associate's degree,
[31:38] and today that decision is finally paying off. I know that in the next four years,
[31:42] we will continue to stay dedicated to our goals and continue to butter ourselves.
[31:46] I'm praying for us all to succeed and our college and career path will be starting in a few months.
[31:51] A friendly reminder to everyone, enjoy your senior summer.
[31:55] It's the last one we'll have before real adult responsibilities.
[31:58] We've been planning for graduation and college this past year,
[32:01] so let's fully take in this moment and live in the moment during our senior summer.
[32:05] Finally, I hope we can all reunite next year when the new building is open
[32:08] and watch our portables being towed away.
[32:10] Thank you so much and congratulations again.
[32:13] Thank
[32:21] you, Sarah. Our second class message is from the valedictorian of the ECHS class of 2025, Christine Gibson.
[32:32] Please welcome Christine.
[32:34] I'm
[32:40] blessed with the honor, but also the privilege of speaking to you today as your valedictorian.
[32:47] Because I stand among some of the most accomplished people and some of the hardest workers I have ever met.
[32:54] I want to thank God and my family, especially my mother because I never would have been here without you.
[33:01] If you're anything like me, all of your countdowns are now at zero.
[33:06] The mad dash to the finish line is finally over.
[33:09] The ribbon now lies in half on the ground.
[33:12] It's the day we've all been waiting for.
[33:14] Today, the early college high school class of 2025 is graduating.
[33:20] life being life as we celebrate the end of one countdown all the others keep
[33:23] ticking some to our delight and others to our dismay and despite all of this I
[33:29] want to invite you to pause in the pursuit of time the swiftest runner of
[33:33] all and let's look back look around and look forward as we're together one last
[33:38] time when I think back to the past three years we were different people if I
[33:43] think hard enough I remember long bus rides as we slept on our way to
[33:46] school, very good early risers.
[33:49] I think of us dodging volleyball in the Amphitheater.
[33:52] And even a time when there was three lunches
[33:54] and even fewer cares, we didn't know it.
[33:56] But passion was bumbling underneath the surface.
[33:59] And because of that passion, during our time at ECHS,
[34:03] I had the opportunity of meeting artists like Jasmine
[34:06] and Sam.
[34:07] I met three dancers who committed countless hours
[34:10] to their art form.
[34:11] I met Olympic weight lifters like Usman.
[34:13] I met creatives like Sterling and later Aiden, who would turn mere assignments into masterpieces.
[34:20] And I realize now that passion was what defined each and every one of us all the while.
[34:25] It was passion that propelled Spillers as he sprinted through the classroom at 9 a.m.
[34:29] because caffeine could never, never, or wags to talk about parasites
[34:33] as if they were plushies with a smile on her face.
[34:37] And that same passion made Portable 376A Star Wars on one side,
[34:41] physics on the other and kubichuk all around. And as I watch you thrive I learned that passion
[34:46] is multifaceted. Looking around today there's so many faces that should have been here but
[34:52] aren't and so many that started with us and ended elsewhere. There's so many that
[34:58] didn't start with us and are now an integral part of our class. And so we look today
[35:03] we see that there's so many people who brought us where we are. On the behalf of the class
[35:07] As of 2025, I want to thank our trustees and Dr. Aziz for working to help us realize
[35:13] that there is a vision to create innovative solutions for students and helping us to improve
[35:18] it and expand it despite all the rainy days along the way.
[35:21] And I'd like to thank the devoted staff members of ECHS because your passion is what sets
[35:27] ECHS culture apart from other schools time and time again.
[35:31] You deliberately chose a path of greatest resistance with the hope of changing just
[35:35] one life.
[35:36] and I want to let you know that you did.
[35:38] You changed ours.
[35:40] And so know that you've impacted the class of 25
[35:42] and we are grateful to be on the receiving end
[35:44] of such kindness.
[35:46] This auditorium is packed full of parents,
[35:48] guardians and friends and loved ones
[35:49] because our class does not have those numbers.
[35:52] And we want to thank you for the sacrifices
[35:54] that you made to bring us here.
[35:56] When I look at my peers, I realize
[35:57] that everything we need going forward,
[35:59] we have within us already.
[36:01] For example, I see Cameron,
[36:03] A true feminist who taught me that we stand upon the shoulders of giants and need to continue
[36:07] to build their work going forward.
[36:09] I think of Evan and Barat, mighting their few words but full of life if you ever take time
[36:15] to listen.
[36:15] And they taught me that passion may not always be loud and vocal.
[36:19] It's also chipping away at the task at hand with dedication.
[36:22] I think of Travion, a master of Manson subtle arts reminding me that occasionally we need
[36:27] to let go.
[36:28] And Carmen and Myla, the importance of friendship,
[36:31] Audrey, creativity and calculus can happen.
[36:35] I think of Magnus, passion can be hidden,
[36:37] not always what people might think it is.
[36:39] Or Ethan, that passion can be practical as well.
[36:42] Or Elijah, that our hobbies should be cultivated
[36:44] just as much as our earning potential.
[36:47] And so looking into the future,
[36:48] it's like looking into the sun.
[36:50] It hurts, it's blinding, but for some weird reason
[36:53] we keep looking at it, even though we can't even see it.
[36:55] And so in the society where the world seems to be descending into chaos at every turn,
[37:00] passion is what will take us forward.
[37:02] When I look ahead, I see astrophysicists, I see game designers, doctors, nurses, I see mechanics, politicians,
[37:08] engineers, chemists, leaders, creative innovators, business leaders.
[37:12] I see forces to be reckoned with.
[37:14] And if I squint hard enough, I think I see a reunion, but it's pretty faint.
[37:19] And whether or not we reunite, we've already begun to change the future in ways we may never know
[37:24] and in places we may never go.
[37:26] I'm sure many of us will receive grad gifts today
[37:29] and even give some, but let's not forget
[37:32] one of the greatest gifts we've been given
[37:33] during our time at ECHS, and that's time.
[37:37] Whether it's two years, 20 credits, or two seconds,
[37:40] we've been given a head start.
[37:42] Can we ever catch up to time?
[37:44] Not that I know of, but we've been given
[37:46] a head start in the race.
[37:48] One day, we'll ask the same question we're asking today,
[37:51] where did all the time go?
[37:52] but today we celebrate as Dr. Wilson mentioned earlier it said that to who
[37:58] much is given much is expected and interestingly enough we don't always
[38:01] seem to meet expectations sometimes we fall short other times we exceed them
[38:07] my personal favorite is when we redefined them and that's the thing
[38:11] about our class we've never settled for what was handed to us as will be
[38:14] proved today we kept knocking kept emailing kept pushing until something
[38:18] moved until something shifted. And that's the story of the class of 25. We don't just meet
[38:25] expectations. We challenge them. We raise them. And having looked in, around, and ahead
[38:33] of ourselves today, I thank you once more and encourage us to be people. More than just
[38:39] passionate people, but people of passion. People driven by an inner force, one that
[38:44] propels through opposition knowing there's
[38:46] a cause worth pursuing.
[38:48] Not just people who take up space,
[38:50] but people who shake up the spaces that they're in.
[38:53] The countdown may be at zero, but we're not out of time.
[38:56] It's just simply time to begin.
[39:12] Thank you, Christine, for your lovely words.
[39:15] We will now begin awarding diplomas to our graduates.
[39:19] Today is for celebration of our students
[39:21] and their families, but it is also a ceremony
[39:25] and it deserves its due respect.
[39:28] Please extend the same courtesy
[39:30] to the last senior honored as the first.
[39:33] At this time, with the top 10 graduates
[39:36] and our graduation program participants,
[39:38] please proceed down the ramp to my right,
[39:41] to your seats for the validation of candidacy.
[40:03] I have the great honor of introducing
[40:05] Dr. Hafed Aziz, Superintendent of Schools,
[40:09] to certify our class of 2025.
[40:12] Students, please stand and remain standing during the validation of candidacy.
[40:33] The class of 2025, Starr Kindergarten back in 2012.
[40:39] That was the year LeBron James won his first MBA title.
[40:43] And the iPhone 5 was the hottest thing around.
[40:47] I know a lot has changed since then, including our graduates who have grown into smart,
[40:53] resilient and inspiring people. Now the young adults before you today are the
[41:00] voices of tomorrow's progress and innovation. They are our future scientists,
[41:06] educators, artists, entrepreneurs, developers, explorers, and leaders.
[41:16] Graduates, enjoy today.
[41:19] We are cheering on as you take your next steps.
[41:23] We believe in you.
[41:25] We are proud of you, and we will miss you.
[41:30] And so by the authority vested in me by the state of Texas and the Round Rock Independent
[41:36] School District, I certify to the Board of Trustees that all students who have met
[41:41] at their graduation requirements are
[41:43] bi-illegible to receive their high school diploma.
[41:47] Congratulations to the class of 2025.
[41:49] You did it.
[42:02] Thank you, Dr. Aziz.
[42:04] Seniors, you may be seated.
[42:07] Will the first row please stand and prepare
[42:10] to receive your diplomas.
[42:13] Now to assist with the presentation of the graduates
[42:16] will be our ECHS counseling team, Dr. Valerie
[42:19] Lozier, Ms. Helen Holmes.
[42:21] each senior's name will be called along with a special statement each wanted to
[42:28] share. As mentioned by a Mrs. Ross we ask that you please refrain from prolonged
[42:34] cheering during this celebration as the noise may drown out the names and
[42:39] special statements from each senior. At this time will our board, our
[42:43] superintendent, please get into your positions and we will begin the
[42:47] awarding of the diplomas.
[43:22] Number one in the class are valedictorian, Christine
[43:26] Masoma Gibson.
[43:28] Christine will be attending Syracuse University
[43:32] to earn her bachelor's in sociology and master's
[43:35] in public administration simultaneously
[43:37] before advancing to law school to work
[43:39] in non-profit administration and council in the future.
[43:43] She wants to thank her very own mother for everything,
[43:47] her family for their incessant support,
[43:48] support, her friends who kept her sane, Dr. Logier for being her cheerleader, and every
[43:53] teacher and mentor who played a role in the story of her life.
[44:03] Number two in the class are salutatorian Sarah Zavallera.
[44:09] Sarah will be attending Texas Christian University to pursue a specialty nursing degree.
[44:23] Number three in the class, Siri Sahasra Bandham.
[44:26] Siri will attend the University of Texas at Austin majoring in biomedical engineering.
[44:33] She will be pursuing a career in the health care.
[44:42] Number four in the class, Usman Ali Khan.
[44:46] Usman will attend the University of Texas at Austin majoring in biology
[44:51] and eventually going to medical school.
[45:05] Number five in the class, Sophia Artemisia Reis. Sophia will be attending Loyola University,
[45:13] Chicago, on a presidential scholarship and will be majoring in political science. She will
[45:18] also be dancing with Balli Austin as a member of their studio company. Sophia would like
[45:23] to thank her family for their continuous support and encouragement to pursue her passions
[45:27] as well as paying for her numerous piles of point shoes.
[45:36] Number six in the class, Matthew
[45:38] Thomas Illian. Matthew will attend Texas State University to pursue a degree in
[45:45] communication and eventually go to seminary.
[45:54] Number seven in the class
[45:56] Madison Jane Kim. Madison will attend Case Western Reserve University and
[46:04] will major in aerospace engineering.
[46:13] Number eight in the class Truman James
[46:15] James Hamade. Truman will be attending Texas A&M University and major in Electrical Engineering.
[46:30] Number nine in the class, Oz Deichmann. Oz will be attending the University of Texas
[46:37] at Austin and major in Arts and Entertainment Technologies. They appreciate the teachers,
[46:43] professors, family and friends who have supported their high school journey in pursuit
[46:47] of higher education.
[46:52] Number 10 in the class,
[46:54] Gwendolyn Joyce Hanna.
[46:56] Gwen will attend
[46:57] Toulton University to pursue
[46:59] a kinesiology degree.
[47:02] She wants to thank her parents
[47:03] for all their support.
[47:11] Jonathan Lucas Abels.
[47:13] John will be pursuing
[47:15] a career in computer
[47:17] IT management.
[47:23] Ahmed Almamore.
[47:28] Ahmed will attend Texas State
[47:30] Right next year and major in mechanical engineering, he wants to thank his mom, dad, and family
[47:35] for supporting him.
[47:41] Malek Maud Alouakfi Malek will be attending UT San Antonio and pursue
[47:47] a degree in computer science.
[47:53] Ethan Dale Anderson Ethan will be attending Universal Technical
[47:59] Institute to be a mechanic.
[48:01] To those he loves, he says, thanks for sticking around.
[48:08] Bearington Andrew Batchelor.
[48:13] Bearington will be attending Howard University in
[48:16] Washington DC to pursue a bachelor's and master's degree in economics
[48:22] simultaneously.
[48:27] Amira Azim Bhatti. Amira will attend the University of Texas at
[48:33] Dallas and major in mechanical engineering.
[48:39] Jackson Gregory Benford.
[48:41] Jacks will enlist in the United States Marine Corps and pursue a career in
[48:47] counterintelligence.
[48:53] Marceline Blevins. Marceline locked in and made it through
[48:58] her classes and looks toward a future overseas.
[49:07] Audrey Eliza Bollard. Audrey will
[49:12] attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in computer science.
[49:20] Lyndon Michael Brown.
[49:24] Lyndon will be pursuing a degree in business administration at UT Dallas.
[49:29] He wants to thank his parents for their unwavering love and support.
[49:37] Max Owen Bryant in absentia.
[49:40] Max will be attending the University of Texas Dallas for visual and performing arts with a focus on film.
[49:51] Bronson James O'Connor Burlson.
[49:55] Bronson is looking to pursue a major in computers and a minor in theatrical arts.
[50:07] Cameron Elizabeth Buza.
[50:11] Cameron will be majoring in mechanical engineering in the Ogden Honors College
[50:16] for mechanical engineering at Louisiana State University and will then pursue law school for a career in patent law.
[50:27] Angel Bustos.
[50:30] Angel will continue his studies at ACC in the area of writing.
[50:43] LaSophia Cantu.
[50:46] Myla will be attending the University of Texas San Antonio
[50:50] majoring in cybersecurity.
[50:58] Magnus Edmund Chidister.
[51:02] Magnus will attend Brigham Young University, Idaho,
[51:06] this fall, majoring in chemistry.
[51:08] He is grateful for the opportunities ECHS has provided
[51:12] and hopes that future graduating classes will have even more doors open to them.
[51:21] Selena, Ani, Kainani, Waimi, Chalk.
[51:26] Selena will attend Indiana University Bloomington next year
[51:30] and major in Human Resource Management.
[51:33] She would like to thank her parents, dogs and friends for their support to the past four years.
[51:42] William Joseph Daniels.
[51:44] William would like to thank everyone who has helped him throughout his high school.
[51:48] He will be advancing his education
[51:50] to achieve long-term academic and career goals.
[51:59] Addison Leila Renee Davis-Mini.
[52:07] Addison will be attending Texas State University
[52:10] along with her sisters and close friends.
[52:12] She will be pursuing a career in forensic psychology
[52:15] and wants to thank her family for being overwhelmingly supportive.
[52:24] Owen Michael Fields.
[52:26] Owen will be pursuing a degree in chemical engineering
[52:29] and a career as a process chemist.
[52:38] Evan Finch.
[52:40] Evan wants to thank his mom and dad for being supportive
[52:43] and always being there for him when he needed them the most.
[52:47] He will be taking a gap year.
[52:54] Rebecca Lynn Gephardt.
[52:57] Rebecca will be pursuing a degree
[52:59] in elementary education at Tarleton State University.
[53:03] She's deeply grateful to Senora Lucero,
[53:06] Mr. Clint Scales, David, her friends,
[53:09] especially Rachel Saraneumi and her family for their unwavering support, love and guidance.
[53:18] Nydia Sophia Goodrow.
[53:22] Sophia will be pursuing dance professionally while attending Texas State Online for a degree in education.
[53:34] Shanee Rachel Greenberg.
[53:38] Shanee is passionate about her Jewish faith and her connection to Israel.
[53:42] Well, next year she will attend Sharfman's, a religious seminary in Jerusalem, and hopes
[53:49] to pursue a career working with Jewish youth.
[53:52] Shani is incredibly grateful to God for placing her in such an incredible family and hopes
[53:57] to lead a life that makes them proud.
[53:59] She's also thankful for all her mentors, religious teachers, and counselor, Dr. Logier,
[54:04] for all their support, advice, and love.
[54:10] Riley Medrine Grigorsak Riley will attend Texas State next year
[54:17] and major in marketing, she would like to thank her mom, dad and little sister for always
[54:21] sticking with her through this journey no matter what.
[54:28] Devon Jeffrey Harris Devon will be going on to get his bachelor's
[54:34] and applied technologies to then pursue a career in the Coast Guard.
[54:45] Mosiah Stephen Hill Mosiah is grateful for all the experiences
[54:50] he's had to learn from and will be serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus
[54:55] the Scribes of Latter-day Saints.
[55:02] Jack Stone-Hillard. Jack will be taking a gap year. He would
[55:08] like to thank his friends for many good memories.
[55:17] Marina Veronica Icaro.
[55:23] Marina would like to
[55:24] thank the ECHS community, her friends and loved ones for believing in her when she couldn't
[55:29] believe in herself. She hopes to become a pediatric speech-language pathologist helping
[55:34] helping children build confidence and mentoring others along the way.
[55:43] Caitlin Elizabeth Illig.
[55:47] Caitlin will attend Texas A&M at College Station in the fall where she will be studying astrophysics.
[55:53] She would like to thank her parents for their endless support.
[56:01] Rayan Umar Javaid.
[56:05] Rayan will be attending ACC where he plans to pursue his passion in cybersecurity.
[56:10] He wants to thank all the teachers and peers who have helped him guide, who have helped guide him along the way.
[56:17] This is not the end of a journey, rather it is the start.
[56:25] Arsalan Ahmad Khan.
[56:29] Arsalan will be attending Houston Christian University in major in engineering.
[56:34] He wants to thank his mom for pushing him to be the best man he can be, always supporting him and loving him no matter what.
[56:45] Holden Christopher Kunkel.
[56:49] Holden will attend Texas State next year and major in computer science.
[57:01] Colton Klein.
[57:06] Colton will be pursuing a degree in sports management at the University of North Texas.
[57:15] Samantha Caridad-Machin-Rondon.
[57:22] Sam is looking forward to going to Texas State and majoring in social work
[57:26] and is grateful for her family and friends and teachers who've helped shape her.
[57:30] She gives special thanks to their past advisory teacher Mr. Spillers and the friends and advisory for always helping out.
[57:41] Vivian Martinez.
[57:47] Vivian will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio next year and major in criminal psychology.
[57:57] Forrest Sage McGeehan.
[58:01] Forrest will attend the University of North Texas next year and major in accounting.
[58:09] Aiden, James, Presley, McVeigh,
[58:14] Aiden will attend Texas State University next year in
[58:17] major in political science,
[58:22] Rhys Dura-Jay-Malice, Rhys will attend Texas A&M College Station
[58:28] and major in chemistry on the pre-med track,
[58:35] Felicity Mesa,
[58:41] Felicity will attend Princeton
[58:42] University this fall and will be studying astrophysics.
[58:45] She likes to thank her parents for being there every step of the way.
[58:55] Sammy, Amir, Mary.
[59:02] Sammy balanced his academic success with leadership, mentorship, and technical excellence.
[59:07] He had many passion projects, but his proudest was his AI program that he presented to Google
[59:12] and an online education course that generated $500,000 in revenue.
[59:17] Sammy will attend the ACC Samsung Engineering Academy with Texas A&M and major in computer engineering.
[59:29] Veronica Gale Mock.
[59:36] Veronica is attending Fisher College next year with a major in criminal justice and would like to thank friends and family for being there for her.
[59:47] Unita Mutambilike.
[59:54] Unita will be pursuing a career in medicine and wants to thank her family for their patience and support.
[1:00:05] Yossaira Mohammed.
[1:00:09] Yossaira would like to thank her family.
[1:00:17] Naomi Nathan.
[1:00:21] Naomi will be
[1:00:22] attending the University of Arkansas in the fall, majoring in political science. She
[1:00:27] would like to thank all her friends and family for all of their support over the
[1:00:30] last four years.
[1:00:36] Victor Nkemka.
[1:00:41] Victor would like to thank his family.
[1:00:46] Diego
[1:00:46] Roberto Ochoa Ramos.
[1:00:52] Diego will be pursuing a career in medicine at Southwestern
[1:00:56] University.
[1:01:05] Jasmine Elizabeth Paria Navarro.
[1:01:15] Jasmine will attend Texas State
[1:01:17] University and major in communication design. She would like to thank her mom
[1:01:21] and dad for all their support.
[1:01:28] Charmi Patel.
[1:01:32] Charmi wants to thank her family
[1:01:34] for giving her the opportunity for a better education and to thank everyone
[1:01:37] else for helping her graduate with a joyful high school experience.
[1:01:46] Elena
[1:01:47] Ren Patterson.
[1:01:52] Ren will attend Texas A&M San Antonio and major in computer
[1:01:55] science in the fall while continuing to accept commissions for making and
[1:01:59] selling candles and essential oil rollers while in college.
[1:02:08] Evan Ramundo
[1:02:09] Peña Decano.
[1:02:16] Evan will be pursuing a career in civil engineering.
[1:02:25] Carmen
[1:02:26] Perez Aquino.
[1:02:30] Carmen will be majoring in biology with a concentration in
[1:02:34] pre-med at the University of Texas at San Antonio in hopes of becoming an
[1:02:38] OBGYN. She would like to thank all her family and friends for getting her through these last
[1:02:42] four years, especially her mom. Gracias, mami, por todo lo que hace hecho por mi, en mi vida. Te amo muchísimo.
[1:02:58] Paul Pumpey Potts.
[1:03:14] Paul wants to thank his mother for always believing him and all the
[1:03:18] sacrifice she made for him.
[1:03:25] Elijah J. Charles Preston.
[1:03:35] Elijah wants to thank Senora
[1:03:37] Lacerro for unconditional help and support.
[1:03:44] Logan Pruitt.
[1:03:49] Logan will be
[1:03:50] attending Austin Community College to become a registered nurse.
[1:03:59] Merrick
[1:03:59] Pryor.
[1:04:05] Merrick will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio next year and
[1:04:09] major in kinesiology. He thanks his family for their love and support.
[1:04:19] Williams, sorry, sorry, Christopher William Richter.
[1:04:30] Chris wants to thank everyone who supported him throughout his time at early college.
[1:04:36] He and his spine are holding strong and full of hope for the future.
[1:04:45] Julia Robles.
[1:04:50] Julia would be attending, Julia would be pursuing a career in video game design
[1:04:55] and wants to thank her family for always being there and supporting her.
[1:05:05] Sterling, Josea, Flair, Rodriguez.
[1:05:13] Sterling wants to thank his mama, his family, and his friends for getting him through high school.
[1:05:23] Barca, Ruparel.
[1:05:25] Barca deferred her acceptance to NYU, Shanghai to spend the next year working overseas in absentia.
[1:05:35] Lauren, Rut.
[1:05:36] Lauren
[1:05:42] Lescrochet, and she will attend the University of Texas at Arlington next year
[1:05:46] and major in computer engineering.
[1:05:53] Barat Sachdeva.
[1:06:00] Barat will be attending Texas A&M University at College Station and study mathematics.
[1:06:10] Manor Selene.
[1:06:15] Manor will attend Texas State University and major in respiratory care.
[1:06:19] She wants to thank her family for all their support along the way.
[1:06:28] Annette Sanjuan Cepeda.
[1:06:30] Anita wants to thank her family, classmates, underclassmen, staff, and most importantly
[1:06:38] her faith in Christ.
[1:06:40] Her favorite things about high school have been spreading Christ and impacting others
[1:06:43] in their faith.
[1:06:44] She will attend Highlands College in Alabama next year and major in pastoral ministry.
[1:06:55] Joaquin Josiah Sanchez
[1:07:02] Joaquin wants to thank his mom and dad for everything they've
[1:07:05] done for him.
[1:07:11] Trevian Dorotoro Sandoval
[1:07:17] Trevian wants to thank his parents,
[1:07:19] parents, brothers, cousins, and uncles Jose and Goyo, and especially his aunt Licha.
[1:07:30] Noah James Silke.
[1:07:38] Noah plans to work full time over the summer while working on his 3D modeling skills.
[1:07:48] Flor Silvestre Vincis.
[1:07:53] Flor loves flowers and is hoping to begin a small floral business.
[1:07:57] She enjoyed coming to school, learning, making memories.
[1:08:01] Flor wants to thank all her teachers for their support and most importantly Mrs. Holmes
[1:08:05] for being there with her throughout her four years.
[1:08:07] She is forever grateful for her.
[1:08:10] Floor will be attending Austin Community College next year
[1:08:13] to major in health science and pursue a career in sonography
[1:08:16] as an ultrasound technician.
[1:08:24] Hashem Rakan Smadi.
[1:08:29] Hashem wants to thank his friends and family.
[1:08:31] He is extremely grateful for them all.
[1:08:33] He has enjoyed his time at early college,
[1:08:36] and we will be pursuing a career in mechanical engineering
[1:08:38] at the University of Texas at Dallas.
[1:08:45] Billy Ray Sweeney.
[1:08:52] Billy will be attending the University of Texas
[1:08:54] is at Tyler and majoring in computer science.
[1:09:02] Stacy Tang.
[1:09:07] Stacy will be pursuing a career in finance
[1:09:09] at the University of Houston and would
[1:09:11] like to thank her family for supporting her journey.
[1:09:18] Rachel Catherine Tarleton.
[1:09:24] Rachel will be pursuing a degree in kinesiology
[1:09:27] at Tarleton State University.
[1:09:34] Steven Xander Bustillo Tonalete.
[1:09:40] Steven is thankful for the experiences and opportunities
[1:09:43] that helped shape him.
[1:09:49] Sarah Tran.
[1:09:49] Sora
[1:09:55] would like to thank her mom and dad for their unconditional love and support throughout her journey at early college and is excited for a new chapter of her life at the University of Texas at Dallas.
[1:10:12] Luis Villanueva.
[1:10:18] Luis will attend the University of Michigan and major in biology, health and society with a minor in business on the pre-med track.
[1:10:26] He has also received a full ride scholarship to the University of Michigan.
[1:10:32] He
[1:10:38] would like to thank his family for their support throughout his four years of high school.
[1:10:43] Navi Wernicke.
[1:10:49] Navi is looking forward to a career in video game development.
[1:10:57] Samira Nicole Wiggins.
[1:11:04] Samira is planning to further her education by pursuing a bachelor's in animal science
[1:11:09] and committing herself to the Air Force.
[1:11:17] Raveon Janay Williams.
[1:11:26] Raveon will be attending Morgan State University and majoring in architecture.
[1:11:38] Janice Woods.
[1:11:44] Janice wants to thank all of the people who have been supported from day one.
[1:11:54] Armando Alex Zuniga.
[1:12:05] Alex wants to thank everyone who believes in him. Congratulations graduates.
[1:12:37] Allow me to offer my sincerest congratulations to our graduates and their families.
[1:12:43] so uh join me please let's give it up for the class of 2025 all
[1:13:21] right I
[1:13:26] would like
[1:13:27] to ask our class of 2025 to remain standing to symbolize that you are no
[1:13:33] longer high school students but are now graduates of early college high school
[1:13:38] please move your tassels from the right to the left
[1:13:53] graduates please turn
[1:13:55] and face the audience so they can celebrate you.
[1:14:34] Graduates, you may be seated.
[1:14:44] Closing remarks will be made by our student council treasurer,
[1:14:48] Luis Villanueva.
[1:14:50] Please welcome Luis Tenebodia.
[1:15:17] This is it. Four years of memories, challenges, and growth all led up to this three to four minute speech.
[1:15:25] Today isn't just the end of high school, but rather a closing chapter of a journey we've all shared together.
[1:15:31] If I'm being honest, many of us are feeling mixed emotions. Some of us are worried about what the future holds for us.
[1:15:37] Some of us are excited about the adventures that await us, whether we pursue in a bachelor's degree or entering the workforce.
[1:15:44] for us. Others probably wish graduation would have come sooner. But no matter where we're
[1:15:49] headed to in the future or how we're feeling, one thing is true for all of us. We all got
[1:15:55] here because we carried perseverance with us. Each one of us sitting in this room has
[1:15:59] had a difficult moment throughout their high school career. Yet we all persevered to
[1:16:03] be where we are today. Whether it's staying up late to work on our general chemistry
[1:16:07] homework or simply doing a TRF and AVID at the last minute, we still managed to
[1:16:12] pulled through.
[1:16:13] Academics aside, many of us have also persevered
[1:16:16] in deeply personal ways.
[1:16:18] In my journey, that meant navigating the loss of my father
[1:16:21] from cancer during my sophomore year of high school.
[1:16:24] He always pushed me to excel
[1:16:26] and reminded me to keep going.
[1:16:28] I still remember when he would tell me,
[1:16:29] echa le ganas Luis, or you got this to me
[1:16:32] when I struggled in school.
[1:16:33] Losing him felt like my world had shattered.
[1:16:35] A part of me was missing.
[1:16:37] And I didn't know how to move forward without him.
[1:16:39] At times, I was working towards my associate
[1:16:42] of science degree often studying for exams while sitting beside him in the hospital studying
[1:16:46] overnight just to be near him in case it was the last time I'd ever see him. It wasn't just me that
[1:16:52] his death took a toll on but also on the rest of my family including my mom that I see right there.
[1:16:57] I was just I saw just how hard she worked to make ends meet and to pay for medical bills.
[1:17:03] I saw the sacrifices she made and yet in every difficult moment she kept on a positive
[1:17:08] smile. At school, my counselor, Mrs. Holmes, supported me throughout my grieving process
[1:17:13] and made me feel loved, supported and valued. I have a vivid memory of Mr. Kubechec who told
[1:17:19] me he knew just how difficult it was to lose someone so close to you. I never felt that
[1:17:23] close to a teacher before and I knew that he would support me in whatever I did at school.
[1:17:28] Just like Mrs. Holmes, he was a mentor to me, not in a traditional academic sense,
[1:17:32] but as someone who reminded me that even in the most challenging moments, I wasn't alone.
[1:17:38] And in reflecting on everything, I've come to understand that my story is one of many.
[1:17:42] So many of us, especially first generation students, have faced silent battles and still
[1:17:47] found the strength to keep going.
[1:17:49] To all the first generation students in the crowd, you are not here by accident.
[1:17:53] You don't need to prove your worth to anyone.
[1:17:55] Your presence, your perseverance, and your story are already proof enough.
[1:17:59] You've already broken barriers just by being here and I have no doubt you keep
[1:18:03] doing it in the future. Before I close I want to share a message in Spanish for
[1:18:08] my family and for my and for everyone in the crowd who understands the weight of
[1:18:12] sacrifice, love, and perseverance.
[1:18:30] And I'm proud of my mother who supported my family with her strength and dedication.
[1:18:36] Especially when my father passed away.
[1:18:38] I also thank all of my family that are still in Mexico,
[1:18:42] who despite the distance, are always opening up for me love and unconditional support.
[1:18:47] And I know that my grandfather is watching me and guiding me from the sky.
[1:18:52] I'm finally proud to be a new one.
[1:18:55] Now, I share this brief story not for pity, but to remind us of some of the things we persevere through as a class.
[1:19:02] I am sure everyone in the crowd has had a similar story, or at least one where they had a difficult moment in their high school career.
[1:19:08] But here we are at graduation, and in just a couple of minutes, we will be high school graduates.
[1:19:13] It's incredible the amount of progress the class of 2025 has made, and I know we're leaving a lasting legacy at this school.
[1:19:20] I want every senior to know that I am proud of you, and I know whatever you choose to do in the future, you will succeed.
[1:19:26] Keep spreading love to those around you, but never forget that you deserve your own, too.
[1:19:31] Before I end my speech, I just have one thing to say.
[1:19:35] Seniors, for spending all four years at ECHS and making it to graduation on time, can I get a one, two, three?
[1:19:42] Yeah!
[1:19:49] Perfect.
[1:19:58] Beautiful. Thank you, Louise. Thank you so much.
[1:20:02] Parents, guests, and friends, we appreciate you being with us today in this celebration.
[1:20:07] At the conclusion of the ceremony, we will process out the stage to my left, as well
[1:20:12] as the students, and you may meet up with your graduates on the main floor lobby in
[1:20:16] a few moments.
[1:20:18] Once again, please join me in celebrating our early college high school class of 2025
[1:20:25] graduates.
[1:20:26] Wits,
[1:20:32] thank you and congratulations.