By Rob Forleo
Special to the Voice
Under sunny skies at Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven High School held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 11 honoring the achievements of the Class of 2025. A total of 498 students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, marking the end of their high school journey and the beginning of a new chapter.
Dressed in their caps and gowns, the graduates marched onto the field from the main school entrance, moving in step as one united class. The sight of nearly 500 seniors walking proudly toward the stadium’s stage was met with roaring cheers and applause from the stands, where family members, friends, and teachers gathered to witness the milestone moment. Smiles lit up the graduates’ faces, and throughout the crowd, there were laughs, cheers, and even a few joyful tears. Cell phones and cameras were raised high, capturing a moment years in the making.
Banners and signs made by proud parents waved in the breeze. It was a ceremony full of pride, reflection, and joy.
Principal Rob Bohan opened the evening with a heartfelt message, speaking directly to the graduating class.
“Your leadership as role models for our underclassmen never went unnoticed by me, and don’t you ever forget that West Haven High School is always and will always be another home for you. You should be proud Westies and remember once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil. From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you,” he said.
Class President Carmella Ruiz, who will be attending the University of Connecticut, spoke to her classmates with a message of vision and purpose.
“No matter your path I urge every one of you today to envision your future with the legacy you want to live just as you have here at West Haven High,” she said.
Mayor Dorinda Borer then took the stage and delivered a speech of encouragement and belief in the graduating class.
“I am proud of each and every one of you. As you stand on the edge of your future take what you have learned from this journey which is resilience, kindness, and the courage to keep pushing on no matter what obstacle comes your way,” she said. “Tonight you walk on this stage as a high school student and walk off into the world of possibilities. You have a blank canvas and you can write the next chapter of your story. Trust in yourself, now sitting here tonight you know that you can achieve whatever goals you have set your mind to. Graduates, West Haven believes in you. Thank you.”
Valedictorian Justin Woychowski, who will attend the University of Maine, stepped up to reflect on the shared journey of the class.
“I want each of you to close your eyes for a minute. Over the past four years what moment has stuck with you the most? You can remember it very fondly, can’t you? Those are the moments you want to strive for after high school,” he said. “The four years of hard work paying off for one ultimate goal, earning a degree, getting that big promotion at your job, buying a home—in reality it’s just like what we are doing today. We all push ourselves for a long time to get to this point. Before we go our separate ways in life, someday on your own you’ll celebrate the same way with your own accomplishments. But we are all together one last time so let’s celebrate it together!”
Salutatorian Bedirhan Ozmen, who will attend Yale University, offered his own reflections on what the journey meant.
“While freshman year may seem quite distant, there is value in reflecting on what each of us have done in the last four years. Whether you loved every second, hated every second, or felt completely indifferent, we all managed to achieve the same unifying goal: graduating,” he said.
Superintendent of West Haven Public Schools Neil Cavallaro closed the speeches with words of wisdom and encouragement.
“You’ve reached a milestone in your life. Be excited and proud of what you’ve done so far. Today marks a fresh start. A commencement is a beginning. It’s a chance to learn new things, take advantage of opportunities, and explore the unknown. At times the uncertainty may seem scary. Whether you’re continuing your education, entering our armed forces, or starting a career, have the courage and confidence in your abilities to understand that all of your experiences leading up to this ceremony, both good and bad, have prepared you for what’s next. Know that everyone in the City of West Haven is rooting for you to succeed. We believe in you, and we cannot wait to hear about what you do next. Make sure you come back and tell us about it,” he said.”
After the final speech concluded, the energy in the stadium rose with excitement. One by one, the graduates’ names were called.
As the final name was announced, Principal Bohan returned to the microphone for the moment everyone had been waiting for—the turning of the tassel. With instructions from Bohan, the Class of 2025 turned their tassels from right to left in unison, symbolizing their transition from students to alumni of West Haven High School. In that instant, hundreds of caps were tossed joyfully into the air, filling the sky with celebration.
They entered the stadium as students and left as graduates. The journey was not always easy, but it was theirs—and now, the world is waiting.
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