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TFS Celebrates the Class of 2025
TFS Celebrates Class of 2025
The class of 2025 is the largest class to graduate from Tallulah Falls School. This group of ninety-seven seniors is a uniquely talented and ambitious group of artists, athletes, musicians, scientists, and creators.
Several class members have obtained their pilot's licenses, one student has completed her CNA Licensure, and 90% of the class participated in the TFS athletic program. Twelve graduates plan to compete in collegiate athletics. Ninety-two out of 97 seniors took college dual-enrollment courses, totaling 2,448 credit hours.
Together, they earned more than $9.7 million in college scholarship offers and were accepted to over 140 colleges and universities.
On Thursday, May 22, faculty, staff, students, and families gathered to celebrate. Click here for image gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCg7rg.
TFS chaplain Randy Morris presented a prayer of blessing to the class of 2025.
President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy welcomed graduates, families, faculty, staff, and guests, both in person and those joining virtually from around the world. Peevy exhorted the class of 2025:
“You have what it takes to make a difference. Wherever you go, have a positive impact on other people. I wish you all significance. That means that everyone you have touched will remember you even in your absence,” Peevy said. “These are very bright kids, and they have a bright future in front of them.”
This was followed by a word from the Board of Trustees chair, James Weidner. “Success and significance are really a remarkably easy thing to achieve; all you have to do is work hard and do the right thing all the time,” he encouraged the class.
Dink NeSmith, retired president and co-owner of Community Newspapers Inc., gave an inspiring commencement address before Peevy and Academic Dean Jeremy Stille presented diplomas to the class.
Katie Anderson and Marina Dumas were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Both delivered speeches expressing gratitude to family, teachers, and others, reflecting on memories of time spent with friends, and acknowledging the impact of the TFS experience.
Excerpt from Valedictorian Katie Anderson’s speech:
The motivation behind every choice falls into one of two categories: passion or fear. You want to or you have to. We can spin and laugh in the freedom of risk, or we can seek refuge in the comfort of playing it safe. And caution certainly has its benefits, but I don’t want to live my life in fear. I would rather work twice as hard to live for my passion than to live out of necessity. And I know that no matter how successfully I pursue those wants, I will never fully escape the needs, but I would rather fight for something than against something. So I choose the risk. I choose the freedom, because a life of chained security has nothing to offer me.
Excerpt from Salutatorian Marina Dumas’ speech:
I have heard that our school is known as the light in the mountains. That light is more than just a symbol because it represents the hope and positivity that define us as students of Tallulah Falls. It takes real strength to display these qualities and to carry that light forward to others. We are entering a world that needs more people willing to commit to creating solutions. Each of us is a part of that light shining through the mountains. It grew within us every time we chose to keep showing up, even when it was hard, every time we turned challenges into lessons, and every time we found ways to encourage and love one another. Let’s carry that light with us. Let’s use everything we have learned here to make a difference. Let’s be the people who ask, “How can I help?” How can I lead?” How can I bring more light into the world?