The Perryville High School Class of 2025 entered Perry Park Center last Friday evening as students and exited as graduates ready to embrace the futures they have planned.
Diplomas were awarded to 208 students, some of whom graduated early and returned to walk the stage alongside their classmates.
Principal Shadrick Shafer welcomed the graduating seniors and their guests to the ceremony, which had been delayed by 90 minutes to allow severe weather to pass.
Senior Class President Leah Traut also extended a welcome to her classmates and those in attendance.
Ayla Schuler was chosen by a vote of the faculty and students to deliver this year’s address. She is the daughter of Wendy Schuler and Marion Layton from Perryville. After graduation, Schuler will attend Southeast Missouri State University, where she plans to major in vocal music education with piano as her primary instrument. She has been awarded the 2025 John Philip Sousa Band Award, as well as Southeast Missouri State University’s Copper Dome, Residence Life Leadership, and Residence Life Supplemental Scholarships.
Schuler shared with her classmates about discovering a musical arrangement titled “Cliff Notes” in a collection of gifted music. Initially, the piece made little sense, as the melody was erratic and the lyrics seemed random. Soon, she understood that the lyrics represented the jumbled thoughts of a mother attempting to recall all the advice she wants to give her son before he leaves home. The complete title of the piece is “Cliff: Notes From Your Mother as You Leave Home.”
The advice includes “Don’t wait too long to get started” and “Always poke it with a stick first to see if it moves.” Schuler found it appealing to share similar advice with her classmates for her graduation speech, so she asked more than 20 faculty members to share life advice.
“Whether you are moving out for college, commuting, taking a gap year, joining the workforce, or entering the Armed Forces, we are all beginning a new part of life where we finally decide how we want to live. And to be successful in that, we need all the advice we can get,” she said before sharing the Class of 2025’s personal Cliff Notes: “Cliff Note No. 1 is from Mrs. (Cynthia) Buerck in the English Department. She said, ‘People will come and go throughout your life, but at the end of the day, you will always have to live with yourself. Make sure you are someone you want to spend your life with.’
“Cliff Note No. 2 is from Mrs. (Amy) Camarillo, business and marketing instructor. She said, ‘A dream with a deadline becomes a goal. A goal written down into steps is a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams a reality.’” Schuler also shared advice from Mr. Jacob Bagot, band director: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough;” and from Mrs. Gretchen Jacob: “The sad reality of life is that the one person you say you will visit will no longer be here someday. Take the time to see them, to talk to them, take the time to listen to their stories.”
Finally, she shared advice from Principal Shadrick Shafer: “Graduation is not an ending, it is an egress to a million paths, and an opportunity to truly test the mettle, the skills, and the wherewithal each young man and woman has developed over the preceding 13 years. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. It’s new. It’s the future that is both inevitable and beautiful, with unknowable opportunities… It’s a blank page.”
Concluding her speech, Schuler said, “Class of 2025, there is a wealth of heartfelt wisdom in the words our educators and faculty chose to share. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, (almost) everything is your choice from now on. Choose what advice will work for your way of life. The educators and faculty at Perryville High School would agree that whichever one in a million paths you choose, let it be yours.”
Don O’Keefe, a health teacher at PHS and the head baseball coach, was selected by students to deliver the commencement address for 2025. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from McKendree University and a Master’s degree in Administration from William Woods University. O’Keefe joined the Perryville High School faculty in 1999 as a social studies teacher, later working at Jackson R-II Public Schools before returning to PHS in 2022.
His message to the graduates was that they could choose to be pessimists or optimists in their lives. He related the story of former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, who won the 2007 World Series MVP Award. O’Keefe told the students that Eckstein had zero offers to play college ball, but he begged coaches at the University of Florida in Gainesville for an opportunity to try out for the team.
“He didn’t make it the first time, so he put in the work and begged for another shot,” O’Keefe said. “He was finally given his shot as a walk-on infielder for the Florida Gators. After spending a decade in the minors, Eckstein was drafted in the 19th round by the Red Sox in 1997, but he didn’t make it to a roster until 2001 when the Anaheim Angels picked him up off the waivers.”
O’Keefe told the graduating class that they could choose to give up, like many people thought Eckstein should do, when their dreams don’t come easily, or they could find it in themselves to work harder and believe that what they want is possible.
“Eckstein went on to win a World Series with Anaheim in 2002, then went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals. In his first two seasons, he was an All-Star, and in 2006, the Cardinals won the World Series, where he was named MVP of the Series. He finally called it a career after 10 seasons, when lots of people wrote him off years before.”
Following the ceremony’s conclusion, the Class of 2025 enjoyed the annual Project Graduation celebration, an all-night lock-in party held at the Perry Park Center.
The Class of 2025 graduates are Andrew Chance Lipp, Kolten Christopher Little, Kyleah Jo Littleton, Maliki Alexander Logan, Josephine Marie Lohmann, Marilisa Lopez- Herrera, Trenton Xavier Lorenz, Toby James Lucas, Savannah Jo Lukefahr, Asia Michele Mahathath, Raina Renee Manche, Trevor Alan Manche, Maria Mattingly Hernandez, Allie Elizabeth McGee, Abygail Faith Mercado, Emma Michael, Anela Miller, Kassidy Kay Miller, Johnny Ray Miner, Ava Christine Moll, Devin Kyle Moll, Devon Lee Moll, Nathaniel Morgan Moll, Michael Travis Moore, Kaiden Scott Morgan, Preston James Morland, Kallie Elizabeth Muench, Gwynivere Luthien Newbrough, Landen Woodrow Nuyt, Troy Ryan O’Keefe, Audry Lilly Maria O’Leary, Bhavya Patel, Panvi A Patel,Ty Christopher Peeler, Julia Perez-Hernandez, Santos Perez-Hernandez, Xavier Charles Pfaff, Landon Paul Phillips, Isabella Colette Pingel, Landyn Michael Pingel, Mirra Victoria Pingel, Reagan Corienne Pingel, John Lee Pippin, Konnor Allen Popp, Jeffrey Nathaniel Redecker, Jeremy David Reisenbichler, Avery Robert Rhoades, Elizabeth Jean Rhoden, Chase Jacob Richardet, Connor Tyson Richardet, Katelyn Jean Richardet, Jewel Michelle Riney,Taylor Marie Riney, Jamie Mae Rogers, Richard Grady Ruch, Austin Riley Runge, Maya Nicole Sanchez, Julia Paige Sattler, Lacey Elizabeth Scamell, Annaliz Rose Schemel, Eli Graham Schott, Wyatt Michael Schremp, Ayla Lane Schuler, Clara Elizabeth Schumer, Marley Renee Seabaugh, Dominic James Seiler, Jake Martin Selby, Madison Paige Sharp, Taylor Glenn Shrum, Jaydon Rashann, Smith, Kaydence Joy Smith, Sarah Elena Maingpis Sneed, Zander Paul Sonsoucie, Cecillia Marie Spencer-Hayes, Adison Renee Staggs, Brandon Lee Stephens, Emily Faith Sticht, Micah Scott Stortz, Kenneth Robert Stueve, Ethan Joseph Sutterer, Maddox Anthony Tarrillion, Katelyn Raychell Desha Thurman, Kirsten Tramontana, Leah Michelle Traut, Yasmin Kay Tripp, Aubrie P Tucker, Londyn Tucker, Richard Bradley Wagner, Kaden Cooper Walters, Grady Michael Warren, Aaron Paul Weber, Ava Kathleen Weibrecht, Mariah Jo Weibrecht, Kenzie Kay Weinkein, Kendra Elaine Welker, Rhylee Makenna Wengert, Kara Logan Williams, Austyn Michael Wolk, Savannah Jade Young, Grace Jolene Zoellner, Jedani Guadalupe Aguilar-Montijo, Juan Carlos Ajanel-Pastor, Prosper Areulis Anton, Trace James Austin, Emily Sue Baker, Rosemarie L Baker- Mosley, Ashtyn Elizabeth Balsman, Maddyx William Balsman, Lydia Marie Barrows, Gregary Wayne Bartusch, Teddy Edwards Beegle, Drake Collin Behrle, Aubrie Alaina Bell, Tanner Michael Bequette, Hanna Faye Besel, Abigail Paige Birk, Carter Thomas Blechle, Blake Paul Bodendieck, Brett Wayne Bohnert, Lydyah Sue Boland, Kathryn Lynn Broeking, Alyssa Leann Brookes, Alec Matthew Brown, Aubry Raye Brunner, Colton Gerard Buerck, Sofia Nichole Buerck, Lexis Jade Carlson, Jacob Matthew Casillas, Damon Michael James Chandle, Chamberlain Haddon Chapman, Kylie Faye Chitwood, Jake Thomas Cissell, Devin Nicholas Clifton, Brett Kenneth Coffelt, Treven Michael Comstock, Mason Floyd Cottner, Lucie Grace Courtois, Erin Elizabeth Crannick, Zachary Allan Crowder, Reiley Jade Daniels, Dalton Lee Darwin, Ava Noelle Day, Dalton Michael Decker, Alexzander James Diemund, Allisan P DeWilde, Daniel Parker Dodds, Wyatt James Duncan, Kadin Charles Duvall, Makynna Paige Duvall, Hailey Nevaeh Easton, Taylor Renee Ebersohl, Hunter Thomas Elder, Faith Elizabeth Endicott, Samantha Suzanne Ernst, Alexis Danielle Erzfeld, Landon Johnathon Bryce Ewanchen, Kacy Josephine Fahnestock, Fallon Journey Faulkner, Hallie Marie Figge, Dante Achilles Fillingham, Amelia Nichole Fitzwater, Kaelyn Annemarie Foglietta, Kaydence Shea French, Trey Richard French, Dalton James Fritsche, Adrian Brooklyn Garris, Joshua Evan Geringer, Nathan Joseph Geringer, Ellie Raye Gerler, Russell Donald Giesler, Blake Anthony Hager, Morgan Claire Hahs, Zakary Raymond Hathaway, Evan Richard Hayden, Kassie Lynn Hejnal, Eli Gunnar Hemingway, Gavin Richard Hemmann, Tristan Norman Michael Holdman, Kaleb Michael Holliday, Bair Wayne Hopkins, Grant Jacob Hotop, Julia Marie Hotop, Alexis Lynn Howe, Kaleb Dayshon Huber, Logan Paul Hudson, Alex David Hunsley, Cheyenne Nicole Hunt, Serenity Alexandrea Hunter, Hailey Marie Hutson, Peyton Cordell Jett, Alexandria Nicole Johnson, Brayden Lee Johnson, Porter Law Johnson, Preston Paul Johnson, Gabrielle Elizabeth Keller, Nikolaus Patrick King, Jada Knop, Vivien Marie Koenig, Nickolas Ryan Kramer, Nicolas Joseph-William Lane, Elise Katherine Lauck, Cameron Elise LeClere, Cooper Michael Leible, and Christopher Andrew Linhorst.
