Inspiring speeches highlight MIHS graduation ceremony

Event takes place on June 16 at McCaw Hall in Seattle.

By Andy Nystrom • June 17, 2025 3:30 pm

Myriad inspirational speeches, uplifting music, two backflips and a whole lot of graduation caps flying.

That’s how things transpired at Mercer Island High School’s 68th commencement for the Class of 2025 on the evening of June 16 at McCaw Hall in Seattle.

ASB President Sebastian Pong kicked things off by calmly noting that attendees would be listening to amazing speakers throughout the ceremony who are testaments to hard work at the school. He included fellow speaker and ASB Vice President Rhett Hounsell in that distinguished group.

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Pong rolled into enthusiastic mode when continuing his speech, “I would say this journey has been defined by all of you — yes, you my fellow students. My peers, my friends — each and every one of you has been all of that to me and more. We are here at graduation. We, yes, we made it. We did it. We did it!” After completing the last bit, a thrilled Pong backed away from the podium with a massive smile.

During his welcome speech, Principal Nick Wold said the students in front of him are a special class.

“Today, we gather and mark this significant transition. A moment stitched with pride and anticipation and a touch of bittersweet reflection,” he said. He added that it’s been a growing experience for all over the last four unforgettable years while students sat in classrooms, walked the halls, cheered in the stands, performed on stages and debated in clubs.

When Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle addressed the crowd, he noted that the graduates’ parents, guardians, friends, siblings, extended family, elected officials and educators were at the ceremony, “To celebrate your accomplishment. Together, we make up your loudest cheering section and your biggest fans — here to root you on as you turn your tassels later this evening and enter this new phase of life.”

In a planned humorous moment at the onset of the 14-member valedictorian speech, an English teacher in front blared a horn and told lead-off speaker Kyle Gerstel that the words on his sheet were AI-assisted and that he should speak from his heart. Laughter ensued.

After scrunching up the piece of paper and tossing it away, Gerstel said the group would discuss specific people who they’re grateful for and who have defined their high school experience.

One student spoke about wanting to start a club focused on relationship help and how her French teacher aided in getting it off the ground. It’s still thriving today.

Another Islander said that their teachers are passionate about the subjects they teach and about helping students explore their own interests.

In remembrance of instructor John Stafford, one of the valedictorians said, “Mr. Stafford, your class brought out the best version of me as a student when you told me that you could see me changing the world. It felt authentic and I felt so incredibly seen and supported.”

Joining Gerstel in the valedictorian realm were Ryder Davis, Greta Doroski, Steven Gao, Rachel Garton, Elisabeth Grove, Nikita Kovarskas, Ashwin Krishnaswamy, Andrew Liu, Sophia Loiselle, Hayley Nguyen, Jaycie Prescott, Anthony Wang and Jessica Xing.

Senior speaker Hadley Holtzclaw delved into one of the first lessons the students learned in their Island school journey: the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).

“That may seem like an arbitrary thing to mention in a graduation speech, but I think we can still use the three Rs, just re-imagined for the next chapter of our lives: We can reduce our doubts, reuse our lessons and recycle our dreams,” she said.

Staff speaker Michael Ketchum quoted Jack Kerouac and Anthony Bourdain during his time at the podium, noting that they spoke about living, traveling and adventuring and how travel changes people.

“Many opportunities are gonna be afforded to you and I encourage you to be willingly open to saying yes,” Ketchum said in his own words. “Say yes. You’re not too good for any opportunity — every opportunity is the stepping stone to the next one and the next one.”

On the music front, Anahita Najafian sang the National Anthem and Jascha Silberstein and Elliott Sato rolled out a piano and cello performance of Rachmaninoff Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14.