Photo by Deb Gau Members of the Minneota High School class of 2025 gather in the gymnasium for commencement ceremonies Saturday. A total of 43 seniors received diplomas

MINNEOTA — The Minneota High School class of 2025 was a special group, commencement speakers said. It wasn’t just because of seniors’ accomplishments, but because of their character.

“This group definitely has the ‘it factor,'” said Minneota teacher and coach Keven Larson. “The community should be incredibly thankful for who they are and who they are becoming. They are kind. They are compassionate. They are determined.”

A total of 43 Minneota seniors received their diplomas in commencement ceremonies on Saturday. As graduates and families celebrated, students also reflected on what they learned inside and outside the classroom.

“Think about where you are right now, who you are right now, and what you’ve accomplished throughout these years,” class of 2025 president Tate Peterson told graduates. “Picture the difference between then and now. Look how far you’ve come.”

The class of 2025 were special because of how they worked together, Peterson said. That teamwork went beyond the school, as the class organized community events like a Halloween haunted trail, and completed projects like building a pickleball court.

“We are all more than capable of creating a life that you can be proud of,” Peterson said.

“We have realized that life is more than academics and athletics. It’s about relationships, values and who we are becoming as people,” said salutatorian Ryan Meagher.

“We are a class that won’t just wait for the future. We’ll build it,” Meagher said.

In his keynote speech, Larson said he has seen Minneota seniors serve as role models for younger students. They have also shown character mentoring each other, and by being active in the Minneota community.

“They understand that success is not measured by GPA or points scored … but by the lives you touch,” Larson said. He encouraged graduates to keep making a difference in others’ lives.

“Never underestimate the power of kindness,” Larson said. “In a world that often prioritizes being right over being kind, choose kindness. Choose to listen, choose to include, choose to uplift. That’s what true leadership looks like.”

In his speech to classmates, valedictorian Brayden Downing went into a little more depth on some of the lessons they learned as students. Minneota seniors learned resilience, how to embrace change, how to deal with failure, and how to support each other, he said.

Downing said it was also important to put all those lessons into action.

“We have voices that matter, ideas that matter, compassion that matters,” Downing said. “The world doesn’t need us to wait. It needs us now to stand up, to speak out, to listen, to care and to imagine a better way forward.”

“While this chapter is closing, our story is far from over. So go forward,” Downing said. “Be bold. Be kind. Be courageous. Be you.”