Crowds packed the stands at the Stadium of Champions to celebrate the Christian County High School 2025 graduating class at Friday’s commencement ceremony.
Before students received their diplomas, they were spotlighted for their academic achievements and received a speech from Assistant Superintendent Kevin Crider.
CCHS Principal Leigh Ellen Malone spotlighted the school’s top ten and recognized Avery Adcock as the valedictorian and Cari-Bella Fowler as the salutatorian of the 2025 graduating class.
National Honors Society members, Gateway Academy students, Honor graduates, Beta Club members, Hopkinsville Community College early graduates and many others were recognized and applauded for their achievements.
For his commencement speech, Crider recognized the connection he had built with the graduating class while he was principal of CCHS and Christian County Middle School. As a principal, Crider says it was his job to support students as they developed, but he says his students also helped him become a better educator.
Crider called graduation a finish line and a starting line. As graduates go on to the next chapter, Crider encourages them to remain close to their family and friends, be financially smart, and to remember that failure is on the road to success.
Following Crider’s speech, students were presented with their diplomas and Superintendent Chris Bentzel announced the class of 2025 as graduates. Graduates moved their tassels from the right side of their cap to the left side to signify the competition of their high school education.