NNPS News

Heritage High School

Heritage Valedictorian Trenton Moerdyk spoke about following family members who also attended Heritage, and legacy being not just about the past but also what students will carry forward and what they'll leave behind.

"I promise the unknown isn't something to fear," Moerdyk said. "It's where the best parts of our lives are waiting because if these past four years have shown us anything, it's that we can adapt, grow and keep moving forward even without all the answers.

"The future isn't about having everything figured out. It's about having the courage to take the next step anyway. And wherever we go, we don't go empty-handed. We carry the lessons, the memories and the people who helped shape us. We carry our struggles, our growth and our resilience."

View Heritage's graduation photo album and ceremony video.

Menchville High School

Menchville Valedictorian Kyla Leggette reflected on the accomplishments of Menchville's band, AFJROTC, and all graduates who had participated in extracurricular clubs, activities and athletics.

"Tonight, I'm only one of many hard-working, driven students graduating," Leggette said. "And while each of our paths has been different, what connects us is the understanding that this moment is both a culmination and a beginning.

"A turning point, where everything we've done so far meets everything we have yet to become, shaped not just by the big milestones we celebrate but by the small, meaningful moments that carried us here."

Leggette expressed confidence that though graduates may be uncertain about the future, they are well-prepared to write their next chapter and should stay excited and positive about the possibilities.

Warwick High School

Warwick Valedictorian Britney Calva encouraged graduates to embrace opportunities and act on their ideas, without waiting until everything seems perfect.

"I've come to realize something I wish I had understood a lot earlier," Calva said. "I kept waiting, waiting until I felt ready. I need more time; I'll do it later. But later is where a lot of good ideas disappear.

"Every time I had achieved my goals throughout my journey, it started with a decision. A decision to just go for it. Even when I wasn't ready, even when I wasn't sure about the outcome. Because the truth is you don't wake up one day to find major opportunities laid out for you to choose. You become prepared by saying yes to them and taking action."

Woodside High School

Woodside Valedictorian Matilyn Roberts explained how so much planning for the future may have kept students from focusing on those closest to them as she thanked friends and family for their constant support. She also thanked a few of her most challenging high school teachers.

"The horizon may hold our dreams, but it doesn't create the journey to those dreams," Roberts said. "That journey is made by the people who never let us drift too far."

She asked students to think about the question of how are you going to spend your life --structured and stable or moving forward without a definite direction.

"I may have some direction, but the future is still uncertain," she said. "And that uncertainty is what makes it worth chasing."

Denbigh High School

The most reliable guide in life isn't someone else's map, it's the one that you draw yourself, said Denbigh Valedictorian Layla Morehart. She emphasized that having the space to make mistakes and learn from experiences, rather than always getting everything right the first time, is vital to learning and grow.

"You evolve by trying, failing and adjusting until you get what works best for you," Morehart said. "And if you discover that your first plan doesn't work and was a mistake, it's OK to try again or even go down a different path. It's OK to give up and try something different, even if everyone tells you to never give up. ...

"Not knowing where to go next isn't a weakness, it's a part of life's journey."