Portsmouth High School said goodbye to 176 graduates on Friday night as the Class of 2025 received their diplomas. The ceremony took place at the high school on June 6.
Dr. Jeffrey Heath, the school’s principal, kicked off the event with a warm welcome. Dr. Emily Copeland, who chairs the Portsmouth School Committee, and Dr. Thomas Kenworthy, the superintendent, then shared their greetings.
Oliver Jelley, the Senior Class President, gave the welcome address, followed by some words from Principal Heath.
Mary Kate O’Keefe, introduced by Senior Class Vice-President Charles Cord, was the guest speaker for the evening.
The ceremony featured music from the school’s band and chorus. The band played “Stars & Stripes Forever,” while the chorus, led by Ted Rausch, performed “Here Comes the Sun.”
Two students, Margaux Boneu and Elena Sun, shared their thoughts with their classmates before Dr. Heath handed out the diplomas.
The Class of 2025 includes members of various honor societies. Graduates wore different colored cords to show their achievements. Gold cords represented the National Honor Society, while purple, gold, and green cords showed membership in the National Science Honor Society.
For those who couldn’t make it in person, the school livestreamed the event on their YouTube channel, letting friends and family share in this big moment.
