WHITE PLAINS, NY (June 28, 2025) — The New Rochelle High School Class of 2025 celebrated a milestone Wednesday as 608 graduates received their diplomas at the Westchester County Center, led in procession by retiring faculty members. The class, marked by academic excellence and diverse achievements, was lauded for its resilience and trailblazing spirit.
Among the graduates, five were named National Merit Scholar Program Finalists, and five will attend Ivy League institutions, with four heading to Cornell University and one to the University of Pennsylvania. Fourteen students will enroll in highly selective schools, including Amherst, Barnard, Boston College, Georgetown, Georgia Institute of Technology, Howard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Northwestern, Purdue, University of Michigan, and Wesleyan. Three students will study abroad, eight will pursue careers in the trades, nine will join the Army or Marines, and 38 will enter the workforce. The remaining 490 graduates will attend colleges such as Arizona State, Binghamton, Boston University, Clemson, FIT, Howard, Hunter, Iona, Ithaca, Manhattanville, Marist, McGill, Morgan State, Morehouse, MIT, Mercy, Monroe, Northeastern, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pace, Penn State, Purdue, Spelman, Temple, Westchester Community College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Delhi, SUNY Purchase, Syracuse, University of Buffalo, University of Chicago, and University of Delaware.
The Class of 2025 earned significant accolades: 212 students graduated with a GPA of 3.75 or higher, 42 receiving Honors Diplomas. They collectively took 1,687 Advanced Placement courses, with 81 earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and 80 receiving the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. Additionally, seven students received National African American Recognition Program commendations, 10 earned National Hispanic Recognition Program commendations, and six received National First Generation Recognition Program commendations. The class was awarded nearly $146,000 in New Rochelle High School departmental scholarships.
City School District of New Rochelle
Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds praised the graduates’ perseverance. “Today is a tribute to your scholarship, to your perseverance, and to your powers to uplift others; values that don’t live in textbooks. They live in the hallways, in the classrooms, and in the spirit of New Ro,” he said.
Board of Education Vice President Adina Berrios Brooks urged graduates to lead inclusively. “Be the one who includes, who invites, who sees someone else and says, ‘You belong here.’ That is leadership, that is community. That is how you help build the world we all want to live in,” she said.
Principal Dr. Dagoberto Artiles encouraged the class to continue pursuing their dreams. “You have shown that nothing is going to stand in the way of you achieving your dreams and your potential. This is just the beginning of your journey. Go and write the ending to your story and make history,” he said.
Valedictorian Elena Coelho Adams reflected on the class’s diverse roots. “All we have experienced is the life that we have had here and the life our families brought from somewhere else. As we move on to new places and new cities, we will soon adopt yet another life to add to the mix. When you do, don’t forget to carry the life you built here, and most of all, the life your family has brought to you,” she said.
Salutatorian Eva Kan Aggarwal expressed optimism about the future. “How will our future shape us, and how will we interact with the world? Even if we do not feel prepared, what we have learned here will power the start of the rest of our lives,” she said.
Class Co-President Hannah Petenkemani emphasized the class’s potential to lead. “There is so much life ahead of us. We’re stepping into a world that requires our dreams and actions. It needs people who will pay attention. It needs people who are willing to make a difference,” she said.
Class Co-President Eva Singletary highlighted their pioneering achievements. “We were the first to complete standardized testing digitally, and we were the first to finish high school post-pandemic. Despite the gravity of these events, we exceeded expectations and accomplished the unthinkable,” she said.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.