RANDOLPH — Sixty-four members of the Randolph Central School Class of 2025 received their diplomas during commencement exercises Friday at the high school auditorium.

The ceremony began with a warm welcome from High School Principal Jason Halpainy. He recognized the opportunities ahead for the graduating class, noting that the students on stage would be the next generation of nurses, engineers, doctors, electricians, engineers, officers, therapists and more.

Kaine Kelly, superintendent of the Randolph Central School District, delivered the opening remarks. He praised the graduates, stating the class is defined by their energy, compassion and uncommon bond with one another.

As salutatorian Mia Volpe addressed her classmates, she encouraged her peers to pursue their aspirations and drew inspiration from singer Taylor Swift’s journey to buy back the rights to her first six albums.

Guest speaker John Stahley, of Randolph, gave strong words of advice in his commencement address to the Class of 2025. The 1984 RCS graduate and an inaugural member of the school district’s Wall of Fame offered his insights and wisdom to the graduates.

“I’m hoping we all can use this story as motivation in our own lives,” she said. “In only a few months, we will all be spread around the country. In a sense, we all get the chance to begin again. One more time, we are starting the cycle all over as freshmen who have so much of the world ahead of us. We will be witnessing new environments, new people, new classes and new experiences.”

This year’s guest speaker was John Stahley, vice president of Engineered Solutions for Fox Innovations and Technologies. The 1984 RCS graduate and an inaugural member of the school district’s Wall of Fame offered his insights and wisdom to the graduates.

“You have to make a lot of very, very big decisions in the next few years that are going to affect your life forever,” he said. “What do you do next, if you go to college, who do you marry or otherwise partner with, where do you live — these are all huge decisions that usually get made in your 20s, and they impact the rest of your life. So, I would urge you to think very carefully about what you want to do from this point forward.”

Valedictorian Madelia Griffith described graduation as turning the page on a new chapter in a book.

“The plot of your story keeps going and going and so must you,” she said. “Relentless determination is key for success. It is important to deeply care, to work extremely hard and to know how much something truly means to you. Don’t focus on being perfect, but never stop working to continually improve.”

Graduating in the Top 10 of the Class of 2025 were Griffith, Volpe, Caden Inkley, Emmaleigh Cowen, Maverick Schmeltz, Griffin Nelson, Emma Turney, Joshua Tackentien, Sadie Steward and Quinn Pence.

Randolph Central School held its 2025 commencement exercises Friday in the high school auditorium. Valedictorian Madelia Griffith (left) and salutatorian Mia Volpe led their classmates through the ceremony with speeches of fond memories and advice for their future endeavors.

Graduates

Sharilee Bailey, Sofia Bieniek, Andrew Bohall, Connor Braley, Erin Briggs, Katie Briggs, Morgan Briggs, Makenna Burrows, Chloe Chadwick, Domanik Clark, Taylor Costa, Emmaleigh Cowen, Hayden Darcy, Gaige Emke, Hunter Flood, Gabriel Frame, Alexander George, Madison Green, Madelia Griffith, Colin Hadley, Nathaniel Hahn, Connor Hardin, Drew Hind, Savana Hubbard, Baker Huntington, Caden Inkley, Rayn John, Elizabeth Jones, Warrier Kaltenbach, Devan Lanphere, Tara Lovern, Marissa Lusk, David Malone, Alexander Marsh, Jackson Marshall, Myah McClune, Peyton McClune, Dempsey McDonald, Alyssa Milks, Cassidy Miller, Avery Morrison, Payton Morrison, Griffin Nelson, Emma Patterson, Mason Peelman, Quinn Pence, Gabriela Perez Cruz, Jacob Pierce, Lindsey Plaskett, Zane Razey, Allen Root, Maverick Schmeltz, Kalob Sevenish, Donnilynn Sheldon, Sara Smith, Nichole Smith, Sadie Steward, Isabella Syracuse, Joshua Tackentien, Lilliann Thompson, Emma Turney, Mia Volpe, Wyatt Weaver and Nickola Whitford.

A group of senior girls show off their decorated caps in a spirit of celebration.

Awards & Scholarships

Alton B. Inkley Memorial Scholarship – Tara Lovern, Avery Morrison, Quinn Pence and Mia Volpe.

American Red Cross Blood Services HS Scholarship – Caden Inkley, Erin Briggs and Savana Hubbard.

Bourne Family Scholarship – Drew Hind and Joshua Tackentien.

Cattaraugus County Bank Community Service Award – Nathaniel Hahn.

Class of 1974 Memorial Scholarship – Morgan Briggs.

Conewango Volunteer Fire Dept. Scholarship – Taylor Costa and Tara Lovern.

Congdon Award – Nathaniel Hahn and Lindsey Plaskett.

Dixie Smith Memorial Scholarship – Quinn Pence.

Don & Mary Wishart Memorial Scholarship – Allen Root.

Jamestown Community College USA Scholarship – Colin Hadley.

John Edward McLaughlin Family Memorial Scholarship – Drew Hind, Savana Hubbard, Tara Lovern, Jackson Marshall, Avery Morrison, Emma Patterson, Quinn Pence, Nichole Smith, Joshua Tackentien and Mia Volpe.

Kelley Jo MacLaughlin Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Costa, Emmaleigh Cowen, Drew Hind, Avery Morrison, Payton Morrison, Griffin Nelson, Quinn Pence, Allen Root, Sara Smith and Sadie Steward.

Klubek/WOZ Ed. STEAM Scholarship – Drew Hind.

Laurel Wishart DePietro Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Costa.

Martha Freeman-O’Brien Memorial Scholarship – Sara Smith.

Michael Benca Jr. Golf Award – Avery Morrison, Payton Morrison, Griffin Morrison, Maverick Schmeltz and Donnilynn Sheldon.

Milton R. Hork Scholarship – Sadie Steward.

Norman C. Moon Memorial Scholarship – Erin Briggs.

Paul & Marjorie Mead Agricultural Scholarship – Taylor Costa.

Randolph American Legion Scholarship – Madelia Griffith.

Randolph Lions Club Larry Sullivan Scholarship – Taylor Costa and Emmaleigh Cowen.

Randolph Lions Club Scholarship – Erin Briggs and Lillian Thompson.

Randolph Masonic Lodge #359 Scholarship – Connor Braley, Makenna Burrows, Domanik Clark and Emma Turney.

Randolph VFW Post #6533 Memorial Scholarship – Wyatt Weaver.

Randolph VFW Post #6533 Women’s Auxiliary Scholarship – Sofia Bieniek and Emma Turney.

Razvan Tuduc Memorial Scholarship – David Malone, Griffin Nelson and Allen Root.

RCS Service Staff Association Scholarship – Emmaleigh Cowen.

RCS Teacher Association Scholarship – Baker Huntington, Sadie Steward, Morgan Briggs and Taylor Costa.

Robert & Peggy Paisley Memorial Scholarship – Wyatt Weaver.

Robert & Richard Woodmancy Scholarship Fund – Caden Inkley.

Spinner Scholarship – Sofia Bieniek, Morgan Briggs, Chloe Chadwick, Taylor Costa, Emmaleigh Cowen, Madelia Griffith, Nathaniel Hahn, Drew Hind, Savana Hubbard, Baker Huntington, Tara Lovern, David Malone, Avery Morrison, Payton Morrison, Griffin Nelson, Emma Patterson, Quinn Pence, Lindsey Plaskett, Allen Root, Maverick Schmeltz, Donnilynn Sheldon, Nichole Smith, Sara Smith, Sadie Steward, Joshua Tackentien, Lillian Thompson, Emma Turney, Mia Volpe and Nickola Whitford.

Tim Hettenbaugh Memorial Scholarship – Drew Hind, Baker Huntington, Griffin Nelson and Allen Root.

Todd Livermore Memorial Scholarship – Allen Root and Nichole Smith.

Troy R. Carlson Jr. Memorial Scholarship – Nickola Whitford.

United Food & Commercial Workers Scholarship – Morgan Briggs, Madelia Griffith, Griffin Nelson and Allen Root.

William C. Young Memorial Scholarship – Domanik Clark, Nathaniel Hahn, Caden Inkley, Griffin Nelson and Allen Root.

Willis N. Archer Agricultural Scholarship – Taylor Costa.