(St. Stephens, WY) – The 2025 St. Stephen’s School graduation kicked off with a procession led by the Color Guard and accompaniment from Eagle Drum, as the graduates made their way into the gym at the ceremony held last Friday, May 23.
The Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Faylene Ridgley and Saraka Gardner, were the first to address the crowd after a prayer led by Mike Redman.
Ridgley thanked her family, calling them her “biggest supporters,” especially her sisters.
“They are truly my best friends and have stood by me through it all, believing in my every move,” Ridgley shared. “Whenever I need a helping hand, I turn to my sisters because I know I can always count on them. They all have such a positive impact on my life, and my whole family has shaped me into the person I am today. I could not have done it without them.”
“I want to say how proud I am of each and every one of you,” Ridgley later told her fellow graduates. “We all have accomplished this journey together as a class. Now it is time to continue on our own paths. We all have the potential to accomplish great things. Whether it’s furthering your education, pursuing your passions, or stepping into something entirely new, it is your future, and it is all in your hands. I believe in each of you.”
Ridgley then introduced Gardner, who told her peers that they are “standing at the start of something new.”
“It might feel scary, but it’s super exciting. We’ve learned a lot here, not just from books, but from each other. We figured out how to work together, how to pick ourselves up after a fail, and how to chase after what we really want. So while we leave this place, (it’s) best to remember what we’ve learned and the people we’ve met. The future is ours to shape. So let’s go out and make it awesome. Congrats, class of 2025. We did it.”
Guest speakers Eugene (Snowball) Ridgley and Norman Willow Jr. then passed on some advice and wisdom to the Class of 2025.
“…We have protocols within our cultural needs, both social and ceremonial,” Ridgley told the Class of 2025 after sharing some of his background.
“We need to hold on to those through our lifetime. Because one of these days you’re going to be parents yourselves. You’re going to be moms and dads. You’re going to pass that information, that knowledge of who you are, to your little ones. It’s a good time to start now. You’ve got all these years in front of you. Choose the right path. There’s too much negativity out there.”
Willow, a U.S. Marine who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, then took to the podium and shared some facts about the eagle, which he advised offer many lessons that the young adults can learn from.
“Eagles fly alone at high altitudes. They are silent, yet they possess the strength to soar higher than most. Eagles don’t fly with small birds, which reminds us to avoid the influence of narrow-minded people. Instead, they soar with other eagles. Just as we should surround ourselves with those who lift us up, inspire us to reach our greater heights.”
Following the speaker’s addresses, it was officially time to award the diplomas to the graduates.
Your St. Stephens graduating Class of 2025 included: Faylene Ridgley, Saraka Gardner, Josiah C’Hair, Daniel Black, Jacob Gambler, Ethan Fighting Bear Jr., Ezra Fletcher-Velarde, Ambrosia Harris, Jerome Lawson Jr., Tajia Moss, Reico Shakespeare, Georgina Spoonhunter, Sienna Wagon, and mid-year graduates Jaysa Bell, Cyrus Tindall, and Elson Vega.
Way to go, graduates!