By Debbie Adams
The William Byrd High School Class of 2025 celebrated the school’s 101st commencement at the
Salem Civic Center on May 28. SCA President Ellawyn Pagan led the pledge of allegiance,
followed by the valedictory address from Camryn Love Dullaghan and the Top Terrier address
from Evan Copening.
graduation included (from left) SCA President Ellawyn Pagan, Yearbook Editor Camryn
Dullaghan, and Top Terrier Evan Copening. Principal Travis Anderson is on the far left. (photo by Debbie Adams)
Each year, the WBHS Senior Class Choir singers select and perform a song at the
commencement ceremony which represents the journey and spirit of graduating from high
school—a celebration of how music has shaped their high school experience. This year they
performed “Oceans and Stars,” whose lyrics “speak to the vastness of the future ahead and the
enduring connections that tie us to each other, no matter how far we go.” Choir members
included Alyssa Adams, Alexandria Cook, Beckham Draper, Megan Higgins, Kristin
Kochendarfer, Christian Parker, Mickayla Phlegar, William Thompson, and Connor Wheeler, led
by Director of Choirs Matt Bartley.
ceremony. Pictured are (from left): front row, Kristin Kochendarfer, Ally Cook, William
Thompson, Beckham Draper, and Choir Director Matt Bartley; back row Megan Higgins, Alyssa
Adams, Mickayla Phlegar, Christian Parker, and Connor Wheeler. (photo by Debbie Adams)
Principal Travis Anderson welcomed guests – RCPS School Superintendents Dr. Ken Nicely and
School Board representatives David Linden and Tim Greenway. He then recognized some
specific accomplishments of members of the Class of 2025.
This year there were 270 graduates, of which 71 were wearing gold tassels, representing that
they have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher; 57 of those are also being recognized as valedictorians for achieving a 4.0 or higher GPA; 122 students have also earned an Advanced Studies Diploma.
Several students earned the Seal of Biliteracy, demonstrating proficient writing and speaking
skills in a second or third language—a nationally recognized honor: Emanuel Castro, Luke
Hemming, Nathan Hiemstra, Sophie Holcomb, Hannah Janney, Kaylee Makuch, Elizabet
Maldonado, Grace Onwi, Ellawyn Pagan, Isabella Posadas, Ethan Powell, Mario Arias, and
Sarah Wilcox earned the seal in Spanish.
Nine students in the Class of 2025 have committed to serving in the nation’s armed forces.
Andrew Oliphant and Marcayla Poindexter will serve in the United States Air Force; Grant
Bryson will serve in the U.S. Army; Zachary McAllister and Connor Wheeler will serve in the
U.S. Navy; and Gabriel Dixon, Aidan Lucas, and Zackary Wooldridge will serve in the U.S.
Marine Corps.
“We want to thank these students for their commitment to our country and let them know how
proud we are that they have made this decision,” Anderson said.
Sixteen student athletes have committed to playing their sport at the collegiate level:
- Wrestling: Stephen Underwood – VMI
- Football: Maurice Burnette – Ferrum College; BJ Cheatwood, Jr. – UVA-Wise; Ethan
Haston – VMI; Jonathan Rosser, Jr. –UVA-Wise; Jerrett Shepherd – Roanoke College - Track and Field: Deshawn Austin – Roanoke College; Landon Martin – Lee University;
Grace Onwi – Radford University; Greg Stiltner – Roanoke College - Soccer: Ian Sigmon – Randolph College and Taelor McPherson—Hollins University
- Basketball: Isaiah Board – Concord University
- Baseball: Brogan Dent – Concord University
- Softball: Sara Lang – Bluefield University
- Cheer: Wendy Grimm—Roanoke College
“We have among us individual state champions,” Anderson said. “Winning state championships
this year as a senior we have DeShawn Austin in the 55-meter hurdles. Two seniors, Alyssa
Adams and Connor Wheeler, performed in the All-State Choir. Senior Christian Parker performed
with the VMEA Honor Choir.”
“Roanoke County has partnered with companies in our area to offer students registered
apprenticeship opportunities. William Byrd has five graduating students who completed
apprenticeships this year: Nathan Hiemstra, Blake Richardson, Steven Hornady, Jr., Keagan
Harnish, and Hayden Hamblin-Lish.
“We have a large number of students who attended Burton and many of these have earned
certifications that they will use in the workforce from cosmetology, auto service, criminal justice,
welding, motor sports, game design, mechatronics, computer information technology, cyber
security, building trades, culinary arts, mass communications, and engineering.
“The LEO Club, sponsored by Lisa Stover and affiliated with the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club,
completed 1,765 service hours. This club has continued to grow, and this year completed twice
as many service hours as the year before.
“This year, we had 23 students who completed and defended an Opportunity Ready Portfolio.
Roanoke County’s focus is for students to learn communication, collaboration, and critical
thinking skills. These students created and defended to a panel of staff members how they
learned these valuable skills. They are recognized with a cord and Opportunity Ready Seal.
“Graduates, we would not be here today if not for your families and friends in the stands and
teachers to lead. This year we see three teachers retiring after many years of service.
- Jill Morris – Marketing
- Jayne Atkins – Business
- Brian Butler – Biology
“Thank you for your service to our school and teaching life lessons that will stay with them in
the future.
“Your class has battled through numerous trials and obstacles, some literally, during our
renovation. Remember that the greatest trials of our lives are also the opportunities for our
greatest growth. Graduation is a milestone; it is not the finish line. You will continue to achieve
great things as you all go in your separate ways. This moment will be the last one we all spend
together, embrace the change, and do not be afraid. William Byrd has equipped you to tackle
whichever path you choose. As the great TV principal Mr. Feeny said, ‘Believe in yourselves,
dream, try, do good’.”
Those future plans for the Class of 2025 include:
Bluefield University: Sara Lang*
Brightpoint Community College: Kayleigh Taylor
College of William and Mary: Luke Hemming* and William Thompson*
Concord University: Isaiah Board, Brogan Dent
East Tennessee State University: Hannah Endaya
ECPI University: Jalen Toler
Electrical/Mechanical GJ Hopkins: Steven Hornady, Jr.
Entering the Work Force: Gino Ruks*, Conner Amos, Elice Ashby, Christian Barbour, Elijah
Blanton, Isaiah Blevins, Justin Boles, Maggie Bond, Parker Burgess, Alexandria Cook, Lily
Cornett, Anthony Davis, Hayden Davis, Genaro Enriquez, Donnie Garman, Jr., Bailey Gibson,
William Glover, Devin Harmon, Hunter Harper, Riley Helmintoller, Nathan Hiemstra, Tristan
Hirtz, Colby Huffman, Jr., Sara Kingery, Aiden Kolb-Saunders, Dakota Lawhorn, McKenzie
Lee, Max Livingston, Kennedy Lohrmann, Noah Lowe, Zoey Mann, Brayden Mason, Ryan Mills, Abigail Mosher, Sean Overbay, Mickayla Phlegar, Brady Poindexter, Madalyn Price, Lillie Reed, Curtis Roberts, Joe Rosales, Nathan Rowland, Shae Simmons, Benjamin Singh, Luke Skelton, Cole Slusher, Deontae Tingler, Jesse Vass, Jaydan Weldon, Karizma Wofford, Dakota Woznik
Ferrum College: Maurice Burnette, Jr., Lilah Gregory, Sadie Harmon, Kara Rickey
Gardner Webb University: Becca Radford*
Hampden Sydney College: Daniel Butterworth
Hollins University: Taelor McPherson
James Madison University: Cyrus Adams, Wyatt Bowles*, Graysen Divers*, Landon
Haithcock, Megan Higgins*, Emma Matthews*, Emma Rupe*, Vanessa Satah*
Jarvis Christian College: Charles West III
Lee University: Landon Martin
Liberty University: Skylar Fitzgerald*, Isabelle Robertson
Longwood University: Sarah Wilcox*, Skylar Edwards
Louisiana State University: Emma Young
Marshall University: LeNorah Garcia
Missions work: Landon Sarver
Mosely Real Estate School: Ryleigh Saunders
North Carolina State University: Lillian Johnson*
Paul Mitchell The School Roanoke: Logan Austin, Madison Miller, Madison Saunders,
Ambrielle Wood
Pennsylvania State University—Mont Alto: Aidan Kelly
Radford University: Lacie Gibson*, Grace Onwi*, Alyssa Adams, Blake Anderson, Graylen
Castleberry, Emily Glass, Jocelyn Hartman, Nicolas Joy, Devon McGhee, Elizabeth Reid,
Braeden Young
Radford University–Carilion: Nathaniel Lynn*, Maileigh Culver, Macie Hall, Hayley Lackey,
Aubree Likens, Jenna Matthews, Spencer Peters,
Randolph College: Allie Jamison, Ian Sigmon
Randolph Macon College: Barbara Hernandez
Roanoke College: Carson Bramble*, Hunter Butterworth*, Alejandro Dooley*, Sophie
Holcomb*, Ethan Powell*, Gregory Stiltner*, DeShawn Austin, Emma Craddock, Frank English, Wendy Grimm, Abigail Haroulakis, Annika Hylton, Sergio Leon Valero, Aldahir Martinez-Garcia, Jerrett Shepherd
Shenandoah University: Eliza Otey*
Surry Community College: Alyssa Fairbanks
Triad Aviation Academy: Abigale Tyler
United States Air Force: Andrew Oliphant, Ethan Pekala, Marcayla Poindexter
United States Army: Grant Bryson
United States Marine Corps: Gabriel Dixon, Aidan Lucas, Zackary Wooldridge
United States Navy: Zachary McAllister, Conner Wheeler
Universal Technical Institute: Hayden Hamblin-Lish
University of Kentucky: Kristin Kochendarfer*
University of Virginia: Kendall Lecas*, Jake Moore*, Ellawayn Pagan*, Meera Raichura*,
Kassius Ayres
University of Virginia–Wise: Barry Cheatwood, Jr., Jonathan Rosser, Jr.
Utah Technical University: Beckham Draper
Virginia Military Institute: Ethan Haston, Stephen Underwood III
Virginia State University: Jaleiya Bannister
Virginia Tech: Ava Ashworth*, Christian Barrette, Dawson Brinkley*, Evan Copening*, Zahara
Davis, Abigail Day*, Camryn Dullaghan*, Hayden Eads, McKinley FiGart*, Emily Fisher*,
Carson Gill*, Kendall Gordon*, Mallory Johnson*, Kaylee Makuch*, Ryan Markham, Samantha
Martin*, Christian Parker*, Madelyn Pittman*, Isabella Posadas*, Blake Richardson*, Nathan
Rogers*, Josephine Taylor*, Camden West, Carson Wood, Grace Woodcock*, Mary Wray*,
Virginia Yonce*
Virginia Western Community College: Caleb Dogan*, Payton Hall*, Aidan Hardy*, Hannah
Janney*, Jada Johnson*, Raelyn Lancaster*, Christian Alatorre-Gomez, Bakr Alkaradi, Natalie
Altice, Mario Arias, Alex Bailey, Caleb Bailey, Layla Bannister, Logan Beavers, Carson Bivens,
Daniel Britts, Izayah Brown, Marshall Bruner, Torin Bundy, Nicholas Bustamante, Emanuel
Castro-Rivera, Erika Coon, Matilyn Cox, Nevaeh Davila, Kaitlyn Duncan, Lauren Eggleston,
Ethan Engleman, Savanna Fisher, Alex Fortune, Jude Foster, Devin Freeman, Jahir Garcia-
Davila, Shyanne Hall, Keegan Harnish, Michaya Henderson, Henry Hill, Christopher Jackson,
Jr., Kaylee Jackson, Jhaquin Johnson, Jermaine Jordan, Balin Joyce, Nicholas Kelley, Elizabet
Maldonado, Cierra McDaniel, Kameron McKee, Dylan McSherry, Peyton Miller, Alexander
Montgomery, Madeline Moock, Allysen Morgan, William Obenchain, Genevieve Paul, Caleb
Pickeral, Savannah Powell, Sean Rickman, Elyse Rider, Gabriel Rosales, Johnathan Rozenboom, Jr., Reid Ruble, Robert Sankbeil, Nathan Short, Jhorden Sink, Maddux Sizemore, George
Slusser, Jr., Bryce Stacey, Zheniya Staples, Kevin Stultz, Lucas Thomas, Elijah Trogdon, Javier
Tzompaxtle
Woodrow Wilson Center: Brooke Brant
(* Denotes Valedictorians)
Anderson, along with Asst. Principals Hannah Prater, Kevin Richardson, and Marcee Cook,
presented diplomas to the graduates. After which, Anderson declared them graduates of WBHS;
they turned their tassels from right to left, sang the alma mater, and marched out to the
recessional played by the William Byrd Band.
Richardson his diploma. (photos by Suzanne Witcher)
Lang, Mary Wray, and Carson Wood.
