Shelton, the largest independent school for students with learning differences, honored the Class of 2025 at graduation on Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 p.m. in the Browning Family Gym.
Shelton Executive Director Suzanne Stell told the graduates, “The level of talent and the amount of dedication in this senior class are truly impressive. You took advantage of the opportunity your parents provided. Each of you overcame obstacles, and here you are. We know that many wonderful opportunities lie ahead for you.”
Valedictorian Ford Myers, who started at Shelton School in Pre-Primary, spoke at the graduation about overcoming challenges. Ford will major in Business at the University of Texas in Austin. “I’m proud to say that as a class, we have yet to back down from any challenge,” he said. He went on to say, “Those challenges make us fighters, so don’t ever stop fighting.”
Shelton was honored to welcome William L. Holmes as this year’s graduation speaker. Mr. Holmes, a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of several ventures in the oil and gas industry. He is also the father of beloved Shelton student Will Holmes, who passed away in 2021 during his ninth-grade year. Will, remembered for his bright mind and kind spirit, left a lasting impact on the Shelton community and will always be remembered as part of the Class of 2025.
Mr. Holmes organized his speech around fun facts, inspired by his son Will, who was known for sharing them. He concluded by saying, “Young men and women of Shelton, you have proven you are overcomers. I want you to move on to the next phase of your life, confident that you can overcome any obstacle that might come your way.”
The Class of 2025 is Shelton’s largest. It is made up of 101 graduating seniors who received 506 college acceptances, are headed to 54 different colleges across 21 states and have been awarded $12.6 million in merit scholarships. Acceptances span from Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas and Hofstra University to Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Wake Forest University, the Savannah College of Art and Design and more. One senior earned a composite ACT score of 35, and two seniors earned a 36 on the ACT Reading section. The highest ACT Math, Science and English scores in the class are 35.
Four Shelton seniors signed to play sports in college:
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Jack Conger: Sewanee, University of the South, Cross Country and Track
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Grayson Henegar: Golf, Lubbock Christian University
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Grayson Metz: Carnegie Mellon University, Football and Track
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Peyton Yammarino: Rhodes College, Football
In addition, the following students will pursue Fine Arts in college:
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Liam Christensen: the Dodge Film School at Chapman University in Orange, California, to study film and television production
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Nate Milhizer: Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., for a degree in music performance
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Kate Williams: Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., for a degree in visual art
Enzo Ampolini received the $253,808 Singer Scholarship at the University of Miami, and Ethan Gulden has been accepted into The Hilltop Scholars Program at SMU.
Together, the Shelton Class of 2025 completed 2,894 community service hours this year to help others.
Shelton’s Top 10 graduates include:
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Enzo Ampolini — college plans: University of Miami, majoring in Mechanical Engineering
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Makena Bice — college plans: University of Texas, majoring in Psychology
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Ryan Kollinger — college plans: University of Maryland, majoring in Real Estate Development
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Jake Osborn — college plans: Kansas State University, majoring in Personal Finance Planning
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Josh Prescott — college plans: Baylor University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering
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Sean Sipes — college plans: Texas A&M University, majoring in Engineering
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Ella Trevino — college plans: Louisiana State University, majoring in Philosophy — Law, Ethics, and Social Justice
Stell praised the graduates, saying, “Today we celebrate you — your commitment, your resilience and perseverance and the community you have built.”