After 12 long years, the Class of 2025 has officially graduated! Due to construction, the graduation ceremony was held at Galena Elementary Middle School on Sunday, May 18, 2025. This was a major milestone for students, families, and teachers. GHS will continue to support the Class of ’25 and can’t wait to see what their future holds!
The ceremony began at 2:00 p.m. with a warm welcome from Principal Madeline Hawkins, who praised the graduating class for their resilience, growth, and leadership. “Every single one of you has brought something irreplaceable to this amazing group of individuals and to Galena High School,” Hawkins said during her welcome speech. Special performances from the GHS band and GHS choir added an emotional and celebratory tone to the event.
“I can’t believe today is the day,” said Marisol Trujillo ’25 as she prepared to walk out. Smiles radiated from the students as they crossed the stage in their blue caps and gowns. The large crowd of over 700 people clapped with excitement as they watched their friends, children, and grandchildren walk the stage.
Academic excellence took center stage as Valedictorian Evelyn Callahan ’25 delivered a heartfelt speech about memories, gratitude, and growth. “Our class has experienced so much together and demonstrated resilience,” said Callahan. Salutatorian Brady Turner followed with a speech focused on friendship and the tremendous support the class received from their peers. The crowd erupted in applause as both students were recognized for their outstanding achievements.
Of the 66 graduating seniors, many are heading to colleges across the country, while others are entering the workforce, joining the military, or taking gap years to explore their passions. Senior Bello ’25, who will be attending Northeast Iowa Community College this fall, shared, “Mentally, I’m not ready because it is a big change. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but now that I’ve graduated, I’ve started thinking about all the missed opportunities I had. I’ll definitely try to be more social in college!”
Parents and family members—some with tears in their eyes and others cheering loudly—watched proudly as names were called and diplomas were handed out. Community members, including alumni, local business leaders, and school board officials, also came out to show their support. The ceremony concluded with the traditional turning of the tassels and an eruption of flying caps into the air outside the school.
As the gym emptied, one thing was clear: the Galena High School Class of 2025 is ready to take on the future, one step, one dream, and one bold choice at a time.
