Under sunny skies and with great pride, Galion High School honored the 121 members of its Class of 2025 during a memorable graduation ceremony held on Sunday, May 18.
Many friends and family members attended the ceremony. More than 80 dedicated staff members attended, all dressed in formal academic regalia, symbolizing their support and pride in the graduates’ accomplishments. The event marked a historic moment as the school's own Color Guard—students in the CAP (Civil Air Patrol) program—presented colors publicly for the very first time, adding a new layer of tradition and honor to the ceremony.
Student voices were front and center, with heartfelt and inspiring speeches delivered by Cohen Pierce, Class President, and the Class Valedictorian, Jillian Capretta. Their words captured the spirit of love, resilience, and camaraderie of the graduating class and recognized that they did not arrive at this moment alone.
Throughout the program, a wide array of academic honors and accomplishments earned by the Class of 2025 were acknowledged, including:
Valedictorian: Jillian Capretta
Salutatorian: Avery Lutz
Distinction Summa Cum Laude: Jillian Capretta, Cameron Eckert, Audrey Glew, Avery Lutz, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Carson Walker, Brant Walker
Distinction Magna Cum Laude: Maxwell Albert, Bryson Butcher, Katelyn Claus, Makaylee Evans, Kortnie Ganshorn, Nathan McMullen, Quinn Miller, Zachary Oris, Sarah Peoples, Sadey Stafford
NCSC Honors: Jillian Capretta, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce
Honors Diplomas: Maxwell Albert, Jillian Capretta, Karley Caudill, Cameron Eckert, Kortnie Ganshorn, Craig Geiger, Audrey Glew, Jack Harris, Avery Lutz, Nathan McMullin, Nathan Mendiola, Quinn Miller, Sarah Peoples, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Sadey Stafford, Carson Walker, Brant Walker
National Honor Society: Bryson Butcher, Jillian Capretta, Katelyn Claus, Cameron Eckert, Audrey Glew, Avery Lutz, Nathan Mendiola, Zachary Oris, Sarah Peoples, Cohen Pierce, Jackson Rinehart, Madelyn Schieber, Carson Walker
Graduates with NCSC Associate’s Degree: Bryson Butcher, Jillian Capretta, Craig Geiger, Jack Harris, Jaxon Manley, Nathan McMullen, Nathan Mendiola, Cohen Pierce, Sarah Peoples
With combined total scholarship awards of $1,694,065.00, this remarkable group of graduates leaves behind a legacy of academic excellence, leadership, and service. Of the 121 graduates, 50 are enrolled in post-secondary, 51 are already employed, and 6 are enlisted in a branch of the military. The entire Galion City Schools community congratulates the Class of 2025 and looks forward to watching their continued success in the years to come.
