Ritenour Celebrates Strength of Class of 2025 during May 31 Graduation

The Ritenour community celebrated Ritenour High School’s 107th Commencement on May 31 at Chaifetz Arena with its largest class in 15 years - 454 graduates. 

View pictures from the event.
Watch Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride's speech.

The class of 2025 proved they could rise above the disruptions that the COVID pandemic caused during their freshman year by making the most of their high school experience during their final three years of high school. They marked their final year as Huskies with the highest attendance in recent memory at senior events including lock-ins, Senior Sunrise and the senior picnic. They also started a new tradition of a school-sponsored, off-campus senior brunch.

Some highlights of the class of 2025 include: 

• Earning a total of more than $11.4 million in college scholarships.
• Seventeen seniors graduated with the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, French and Dari/Persian.
• Twenty students earned Industry Recognized Certificates from RHS and North Technical School.
• Seven graduates earned a high school diploma and an associate’s degree from St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley through Ritenour’s dual enrollment program. Another graduate is finishing her associate’s degree this summer.
• Six seniors were admitted early decision to Washington University in St. Louis with scholarships and financial aid packages that covered all expenses. Another student earned the prestigious national QuestBridge Scholarship to attend Wash U.
• Twelve student-athletes will pursue their athletic careers in college in football, softball, cheerleading, twirling, baseball and soccer at the following institutions: Westminster College, Benedictine College in Kansas, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Lindenwood University, Western Michigan University, Stephens College, Harris-Stowe University and St. Charles Community College.

Dr. Bruce Green, Ritenour’s assistant superintendent for secondary education and lead administrator of RHS, inspired the class of 2025 with an adaptation of “The Pencil’s Tale,” as he compared them to the greatness of a pencil:

“Everything you do will leave a mark,” said Dr. Green. “Like a pencil on paper, your actions, big or small, make an impact. Every word, every decision, every choice leaves a trail. Make it count.

“You can always correct your mistakes. Just as a pencil has an eraser, you have the ability to make things right. Failure is not final. Learn from it, grow, and rewrite your story when needed.

“What’s inside matters most. The real value of a pencil is the graphite inside, not the wood or design. Likewise, your character, integrity, and heart matter far more than how you appear on the outside.

“Sharpening is painful, but necessary. To become useful, pencils must be sharpened. In life, the hard moments — pressure, struggle, even pain — are what refine us. Sharpening shapes your purpose and your strength.

“You must allow yourself to be guided.  A pencil only fulfills its purpose when held and directed by a hand. In life, we need guidance from mentors, faith, purpose, or even the lessons from those who came before us,” Green told the class of 2025.

The class of 2025 also received inspiration from two of their classmates. Maryam Ahmadi, who moved to the United States from Afghanistan when war made it unsafe, gave her classmates a greater appreciation for their freedom and right to a high school education and beyond. 

“You are meant to become the best version of yourself - to love yourself, to love the world and to have hope,” Ahmadi said. “If there is hardship, there is also hope. Don’t give up — the best is yet to come.” 

Kennedy Beverly, who earned a full scholarship to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a degree in nursing, challenged her fellow Huskies to be bold as they begin a new chapter in their lives:

“Class of 2025, walk into your future with your head high and your roots deep,” said Beverly.  “Don’t just chase success, chase significance. Be the one who lights up a room. Be the one who builds bridges. Be the one who remembers where they came from and keeps climbing.”