Marist School's Class of 2025 has begun their next chapter, and they do so rooted in faith, bonded by tradition, and uplifted by a community that believes in their God-given greatness. Their journey to commencement was marked by sacred moments and shared milestones.

On the evening before the commencement ceremony, the class gathered with their families, teachers, and friends in Hughes Spalding Stadium to celebrate Baccalaureate Mass and reflect on the formation that shaped their Marist journey. With Christian Ramirez ’25, Vincent Calia ’25, and Juliet Powell ’25 serving as lectors, and School Chaplain Father John Ulrich, S.M. as presider and homilist, the Mass grounded the class in the mission of Marist. In his homily, Fr. Ulrich encouraged students to bring their Marist formation into their next chapter: “You are and always will be sub Mariae nomine—under the name of Mary. You have been loved and nurtured here, and our love goes with you.”

The next morning, that spirit of love and purpose carried into Commencement. Led by retiring Choral Director Mrs. Sharon Coheley, seniors lifted their voices one final time as students, singing “Come, Christians, Join to Sing.” It was the start of a ceremony that honored academic excellence, enduring friendships, deep-rooted faith, and the transformative journey of the Marist experience.

Principal Kevin Mullally praised the Class of 2025 for their spirit of selflessness and their unwavering support for one another. He described them as a group that consistently chose to center others, practicing the increasingly rare art of wishing and willing good for the sake of someone else. He cited moments of unity and pride, such as Erin Davis ’25 being named Homecoming Queen, a record-breaking cross country run by Tommy Latham ’25, and enthusiastic support for student government co-presidents Emily Nelson ’25 and Max Mraz ’25. Mullally likened the class’s communal spirit to a form of adoration and noted their strong Campus Ministry involvement: 170 attended the Emmaus retreat, more than 190 joined annual retreats, and together they prayed over 6,500 times during their years at Marist.

Salutatorian Marshall Lisenby ’25 reflected on his journey of growth at Marist, crediting not just academic rigor, but relationships. “While there was great merit to the effort I displayed in the classroom, the pieces of Marist that I will always hold closest to my heart will be all of the relationships I’ve been blessed with along the way,” he said.

Chieko Noguchi ’94, the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and current executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivered the commencement address. She encouraged graduates to remain open to God’s plan. “The solid academic and spiritual foundation that Marist has instilled in you gives you a leg up as you embark on adulthood,” Noguchi said. Recalling her own faith journey—from global public relations work to Vatican rooftops reporting on papal conclaves—she emphasized the importance of resilience and faith.

Valedictorian Jonathan Lee ’25 echoed the ceremony’s prevailing theme of unity and compassion. “We embraced each other in light of tragedy and provided support in times of trouble,” he said. As the class spreads across the country, he urged his classmates to carry forward their spirit of affirmation and love. “When you speak that love out loud, it will be carried and passed on to countless others.”

A New Tradition

President J. D. Childs announced a new tradition established by the Class of 2025 and inspired by the school’s founding congregation, the Society of Mary. He recounted how, before setting out on missionary journeys, Marist priests would sign a scroll and place it in the Virgin’s Chapel at the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière as a symbol of Mary’s constant love and protection. In that same spirit, Marist School invited seniors to sign a scroll to mark their transition from students to alumni. Encased in a heart-shaped locket, the scroll now rests on the statue of Mary in Mary’s Garden beside Esmond Brady Memorial Chapel. “Held close to her heart, our newest graduates are guided and protected on their journeys ahead,” Childs said.

During the commencement ceremony, Fr. Ulrich offered the invocation and blessed the scroll, locket, and student signatories. “May every student who signed their name feel Mary’s embrace and know they are never alone,” he said. “Watch over them, guide them, and bring them back always to the values they learned here: to be faithful, to be compassionate, to be rooted in faith.”

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