Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 salutatorian Peyton Keller gives his address at the graduation ceremony Friday evening. (Brian McClellan/Olean Times Herald)

Members of the Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 listen to class valedictorian Tyler Richards speak at commencement Friday evening. (Brian McClellan/Olean Times Herald)

Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 valedictorian Tyler Richards speaks at commencement ceremonies Friday evening. (Brian McClellan/Olean Times Herald.)

The Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 toss their mortarboards in the air after receiving their diplomas Friday evening. (Brian McClellan/Olean Times Herald)

HINSDALE — Twenty-seven seniors mounted the stage in the Hinsdale Central School gymnasium Friday evening to receive their diplomas as the graduating class of 2025 during the school’s 89th commencement ceremony.

After an invocation by Class of 2025 President Braedyn Kenjockety and a performance of the school’s alma mater by Peyton Keller and Emily Hover, Keller returned to the podium to give the salutatorian address.

Keller, who had recently taken a trip to the Adirondacks as part of the Hiking Club, likened the graduating class’ school experience to summiting a mountain.

“There are some similarities between hiking a mountain and completing high school,” he said. “You get to the trailhead early in the morning, you;ve got to walk to the mountain. It’s a little easy, through the woods. You’re nervous, you’re optimistic. That’s like freshman year.”

He went on to compare sophomore and junior years to the ascent of the mountain, while standing on stage as graduating seniors was the equivalent to reaching the summit.

“That is where my classmates and I are right now. Heading down our mountain, after having conquered high school. We start to think, which mountain will we climb next? What’s my next journey? We are all about to embark on our next great adventure,” he said.

Hinsdale Central School Superintendent Tiffany Giannicchi invoked the television show Ted Lasso and it’s themes of hope and belief in her address to the class.

“Now, believing isn’t just about wishful thinking. It’s not about ignoring life’s challenges. It’s about believing in yourself, even when it’s hard; especially when it’s hard,” Giannicchi said.

Giannicchi also spoke of the benfits derived from coming from a small town, saying,“Growing up in Hinsdale has given you something truly rare, and that is community, connections and character. Believe that small school create strong people, and above all, believe that you are ready.”

She went on to explain that leadership means more than being the most vocal or visible, but can often involve showing up when it is hard to do so and helping others when they’re struggling.

“I’ve seen this kind of leadership in all of you. I’ve seen it when you mentor a younger student, when you rally behind classmates in good and bad times. When you’ve stood up for what was fair even when it was unpopular,” she said, concluding “Congratulations, Bobcats, we believe in you. Now go out there and believe in yourself.”

Class of 2025 Valedictorian Tyler Richards stated in his address that finishing his school career first in his class had been a goal for a long time.

“(Valedictorian) is more than just a title. … It represents the early mornings, the late nights, the stress. The choice to keep going,” he said.

He then used a fact learned on the recent senior trip as an analogy to describe the high school experience. Heading to Pittsburgh, Pa., Richards discovered that the city has 446 bridges, the most of any city in the United States.

“High school really is like a bridge. It connects where you came from to where you’re going. It helped us grow into young adults, and just like those bridgs in Pittsburgh, each one of us took a different route,” he explained.

After thanking educators and families for their assistance on the journey through high school, Richards closed by congratulating his classmates on reaching this milestone and encouraged them to continue to succeed moving forward.

“Now we’re heading in different directions. … But no matter where we go, we’ll carry these experiences with us. And just like the bridges in Pittsburgh, the next step we take might look different, but it’ll still be to somewhere new,” he said. “And we’re ready for whatever comes our way.

“Congratulations Class of 2025. We’ve crossed the bridge, and the road is wide open.”

Graduates include: Alivia Amanda Marie Bloomfield, Ethan William Chapman, Analia Grace DeGroff, Brooklyn Rose Deibler, Sarah Aileen Easterly, Caleb Michael Elliott, Kaylie Rhianne Foskit, Dana Alan Ginnery, Daphne Marie Gobien, Cody Cortez Hand, Tessa McKay Higgins, Emily Rose Hover, Peyton Allen Keller, Braedyn Daniel Kenjockety, Aubrey Jo Lauber, Marissa Nikole Palumbo, Kyle Benjamin Pease, Marilyn Rose Prince, Timothy Richard Ribble Jr., Tyler Anthony Richards, Alexa Marie Saunders, George Clifton See III, Makaya Brooklynne Stayer, Jenna Lynn Sutton, Landin Stephen Taylor, Jeffrey James Wright Jr. and Josiah Timothy Dean Wyant.

The Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 students, attending post-secondary schools, have been awarded over $499,315 in grants, awards and scholarships. Awards and certificates include:

• Alivia Amanda Marie Bloomfield — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Ethan William Chapman — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Analia DeGroff — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Lee Gaylor Memorial Award, SUNY Alfred State Scholarship – $3,750 per year
• Brooklyn Deibler — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Burt Scholarship – $1,250, John J. Murphy Family Scholarship – $10,000, Betty Pappas Scholarship – $800, Academic Excellence Scholarship – $500, RIT Tiger Pride Award – $22,000 per year
• Sarah Aileen Easterly — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Caleb Michael Elliott — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Kaylie Foskit — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Jack Gaeta “How You Play The Game” Memorial Award, SUNY Oswego Scholarship – $24,000
• Dana Alan Ginnery — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Daphne Gobien — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Scholastic Excellence Award – $200, Gregory D. Spring Perseverance Scholarship – $500, Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship – $2,500, Alfred University Scholarship – $20,000 per year (4 years)
• Cody Cortez Hand — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Tessa McKay Higgins — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Emily Hover — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Carol Poe Model Senior Award – $1,000
• Peyton Keller — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Outstanding Honor Society Member Award, Ideal Bobcat Award – $215, Competitor Award, Academic Excellence Scholarship – $500, St. Bonaventure University Presidents Scholarship – $104,000
• Braedyn Kenjockety — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Alfred State Scholarship – $108,000
• Aubrey Jo Lauber — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Marissa Nikole Palumbo — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Kyle Benjamin Pease — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Marilyn Prince — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Bruce Hamed Memorial Award – $100
• Timothy Richard Ribble Jr. — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Tyler Richards — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, James Mascho Memorial Award, Distinguished Service Award – $200, Scholar Athlete Award – $200, Thomas K. Oakley Memorial Basketball Award, Christian Award – $350, Elodine Swarts Baxter and Lena Conrad Swarts Memorial Scholarship – $1,500, Hinsdale Alumni Assoc. Memorial Scholarship – $1,500, Academic Excellence Scholarship – $1,500, Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship – $500, St. Bonaventure University President’s Scholarship – $104,000
• Alexa Saunders — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Hinsdale Alumni Assoc. Memorial Scholarship – $1,500, Cuba Lions Club Scholarship – $500
• George Clifton See III — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Makaya Brooklynne Stayer — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Jenna Sutton — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit, Cutco Scholarship – $8,000, Sons of the American Legion Scholarship – $1,000, Jamestown Community College Scholarship – $2,000 per year (4 years)
• Landin Stephen Taylor — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Jeffrey James Wright Jr. — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit
• Josiah Timothy Dean Wyant — Hinsdale Central School Certificate of Completion, NYS Assembly Certificate of Merit