View the full Class of 2025 Commencement Gallery here.
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, families, faculty, alumni, and friends of The Colorado Springs School gathered on the Quad to celebrate the Class of 2025 at the 60th Commencement Exercises.
The ceremony opened with live music from CSS's combined band featuring Middle and Upper School performers, along with alumni musicians, led by Band Director Brent Moorhead P'34.
Following a procession of the graduating seniors, the event kicked off with back-to-back performances of the National Anthem and the CSS Alma Mater performed by the combined band, Middle School Choir, and the Upper School Vocal Ensemble. The Vocal Ensemble also performed "Remember Me" from the film Coco. The performances were conducted by Choral Director Emily Michielutti.
Head of School Dr. Ryan Kelly encouraged the members of the Class of 2025 to carry the values of CSS with pride as they begin their next chapter and lead with integrity, face challenges with courage, and stay connected to the community that believes in them (full speech below).
"You are the heart of today’s celebration. Your journey has been defined by academic rigor, creative exploration, and a deep commitment to community. You have excelled not only in the classroom but also in the arts, athletics, service, and leadership. You have shown what it means to be adaptable, compassionate, and courageous–qualities that will serve you well in the years ahead," Dr. Kelly said. "This year, I have been inspired by your willingness to embrace new ideas, your support for one another, and your drive to make a difference. Whether leading school events, excelling in competitions, or volunteering in our community, you have set a high standard for those who follow."
The Class of 2025 selected CSS College & Career Counselor Erik Playe to deliver the faculty Commencement Address (full speech below). Mr. Playe acknowledged that while many commencement speeches highlight historical or literary figures to leave graduates with memorable and practical life lessons, he took a different approach and titled his speech "Lessons from Elvis."
"First of all, I do want to acknowledge that Elvis Presley made serious mistakes in his life and is not a person who should be idolized as a whole," Mr. Playe said. "After reading the 1,200 pages of the two-volume definitive biography on him, I believe his tale is a cautionary one with plenty of very specific and more general lessons, which will make for valuable advice for our graduates."
That advice includes:
-Keep your goals tied to the people you care about and who care about you.
-We need people who believe in us.
-Make the most of the gifts you are given.
-Embrace responsibility.
-Check in with the people who care about you and try to be a positive influence on the people around you.
-Be good to your fans.
-Never feel like you can’t ask for help.
"Before he ever made a hit song, Elvis failed auditions to sing in bands. He paid to record a song called 'Without You,' and it was not a hit, although an original copy of it would eventually sell for $300,000," Mr. Playe said. "Even when he started to have success, people criticized him for wearing eye makeup and having a kid-sized guitar that he was not actually good at playing. One thing that Elvis always did, though, was study music. When he would meet other musicians and songwriters, he would be able to list all of their songs he was a fan of and describe exactly what he liked about them. The lesson for you is to be yourself and really study the things you love."
A heartfelt yellow rose ceremony followed—a tradition started by the Class of 1993—in which each graduate presented a rose to their family to honor and thank them for their years of support.
Upper School Director Tom Torrance presented the Longevity Award to Daniel Mansour, who has attended CSS since Kindergarten. He also awarded the Faculty Cup to Ziqian Michael Huang, chosen by the faculty as a senior who exemplifies the values and spirit of the CSS community.
The Margaret White Campbell Award—named in honor of CSS’s founding Head of School—was presented to Norah Owens in recognition of her academic excellence, leadership, service to the CSS community, and outstanding character. As is tradition, a past recipient of the award presented it, and we were honored to welcome Alex Gardiner from the Class of 2014 to present this year’s award. (See Student Awards below.)
The Class of 2025 selected Daniel Mansour to deliver the Senior Farewell (full speech below), in which he encouraged his peers to let go of perfection and focus on being present. He reflected on his life-changing Experience-Centered Seminar this March, where he explored how migration is impacting families and communities in Senegal, West Africa—an experience that, in his words, “shook something inside of me awake.”
Daniel reflected on how many people, including himself, often worry about things like getting good grades, choosing the right college, or having the perfect partner, car, or job.
"But then, I got to Senegal. And everything flipped," Daniel said. "I met people who didn't have a lot. Some of them didn't have running water or even electricity. They were just trying to put food on the table day after day. But the craziest thing is that they were happy doing it all. They didn't stress about trying to be perfect. They didn't obsess over how many Instagram or TikTok likes their new post got. They just lived. Every single day. With the same positive attitude."
He recalled visiting a small village where children had no technology, just a soccer ball. Yet they were together, joyful, and fully present.
"That hit me hard, because it made me realize how much time I spend—how much we spend—worrying about the wrong things," Daniel said.
He spoke of his late grandfather, who always asked about school and grades—not because he cared about straight A’s, but, as Daniel said, “because he believed in who I could become.”
"He used to tell me how proud he was, and how he couldn’t wait for the day I’d graduate. He talked about it like it was already certain. And even though he’s not sitting in the crowd today, I know he’s here. That kind of love never really leaves you. And I hope everyone here has someone like that—someone whose voice echoes in your heart, constantly reminding you to keep going and to believe in yourself. I think that’s what Senegal and my grandpa both reminded me: that it’s not about chasing some perfect version of life ... You just have to show up, be open to new things, be curious, be kind, and most importantly, be present. Life isn't about getting everything correct. It is about living in and making the best of the moment."
The ceremony concluded with the awarding of diplomas and a celebratory cap toss by the 13 graduating seniors.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025: Soffia Benavidez, Hayden Dobnikar, Katherine Finnoff*, Nikolai Freeman-Harvey, Ziqian Michael Huang*, Ayden Kumar*, Ryder Lathrop, Daniel Mansour, Norah Owens*, Isabel Verruso, Sasha Wan-Carew*, Chase Yarros, and Lahee Yun.
*National Honor Society Member
Head of School Speech by Dr. Ryan Kelly
Commencement Address by Erik Playe
Student Awards: Longevity, Faculty Cup & Margaret White Campbell
Senior Farewell by Daniel Mansour
Head of School Speech by Dr. Ryan Kelly
Presented by Head of School Dr. Ryan Kelly
Good morning, graduates, families, faculty, staff, trustees, and honored guests.
Standing before you today for my first commencement as Head of School at The Colorado Springs School, I am filled with deep gratitude and genuine excitement. As I reflect on my inaugural year, I am continually inspired by the vibrancy, resilience, and spirit that define our community–and especially this remarkable senior class.
When I joined CSS, I was welcomed into a school where learning is not just about mastering content, but about nurturing the whole child. Our commitment to Dewey’s constructivist philosophy—learning by doing—comes alive every day through our hands-on curriculum, project-based learning, and real-world connections. Our mission–to foster growth, character, and leadership in every student–has been the guiding star for every decision, every conversation, and every new initiative this year and beyond.
Early on, I partnered closely with our Board of Trustees to lay the groundwork for a new strategic plan. Together, we began charting a course that balances educational excellence, community, and forward-thinking innovation, ensuring CSS remains a leader in experiential and academic education for years to come. This process has been as much about listening as it has been about planning–listening to students, parents, faculty, and alumni. Your voices have shaped our shared vision, helping us honor tradition while embracing the opportunities that come with growth and change.
To our graduates: you are the heart of today’s celebration. Your journey has been defined by academic rigor, creative exploration, and a deep commitment to community. You have excelled not only in the classroom but also in the arts, athletics, service, and leadership. You have shown what it means to be adaptable, compassionate, and courageous—qualities that will serve you well in the years ahead.
This year, I have been inspired by your willingness to embrace new ideas, your support for one another, and your drive to make a difference. Whether leading school events, excelling in competitions, or volunteering in our community, you have set a high standard for those who follow.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our faculty and staff, who bring learning to life with passion, expertise, and care. I am grateful for your partnership and your unwavering commitment to our students’ growth.
To our parents and families, thank you for your trust and support. Your involvement is the backbone of our school’s success.
As we celebrate this milestone, I am reminded that education at CSS extends far beyond the classroom. Our hands-on, experience-centered approach prepares students not just for college, but for life. We are developing global citizens—thoughtful, ethical individuals ready to contribute to a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Graduates, as you step into your next chapter, remember that you carry with you the values and experiences that define CSS. Lead with integrity. Embrace challenges with curiosity and courage. Stay connected to this community that believes in you and will always cheer you on.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey this year. It has been an honor to witness your growth and achievements. I am excited for what the future holds for you, for our school, and for the generations of Kodiaks yet to come.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! Go forth and make your mark on the world.
Commencement Address by Erik Playe
Presented by College & Career Counselor Erik Playe
This group of people, the Class of 2025, has been my first group of students for whom I have been their college counselor for all four years of high school. So they have heard me talk. A lot. And it really means a great deal to me that, after all they have heard from me, they were like, let’s go for one more round of advice from this guy at graduation. Maybe they are regretting giving me the microphone right about now, so I will get moving on what I have to say, but I do want to express a heartfelt thank you to this group for a lot of things, but especially for honoring me with the distinction of being their graduation speaker.
OK, it’s time for my very formal commencement address. Typically, what you do when you give a commencement address is you choose a historical or literary figure and you draw lessons from the person’s life or works in a way that puts a memorable and practical finishing touch on the education of the graduates. Many of you heard Drs. Gillon and Longo speak about John Dewey or William Shakespeare in past years. Well, my very formal commencement address is titled, “Lessons from Elvis.” Here we go.
First of all, I do want to acknowledge that Elvis Presley made serious mistakes in his life and is not a person who should be idolized as a whole. After reading the 1,200 pages of the two-volume definitive biography on him, I believe his tale is a cautionary one with plenty of very specific and more general lessons, which will make for valuable advice for our graduates.
When Elvis graduated from high school in 1953, he was asked what his goals were in life (you may be asked the same thing), and his answer was that all he wanted to do was make enough money to buy a house for his mama. Two lessons here. The more general lesson is to keep your goals tied to the people you care about and who care about you. Those are the goals that matter the most. The more specific lesson… is to buy your mom a house! Mothers of the class of 2025, don’t get on Zillow just yet, though, because there is more to my speech, but be ready, because Elvis bought his mom a house less than three years after he graduated from high school, and he upgraded the whole family to Graceland within four years. No pressure. Oh, he did buy his parents a car within 15 months of graduating from high school, just saying.
I want to tell you a little more about what Elvis was like when he graduated from high school. He was not someone who would have been referred to as a future rockstar by his teachers or fellow students. He went to his prom and didn’t dance because he said he didn't know how. He was not considered a great student. He had A’s, B’s, and C’s, including a C in Music. One thing Elvis did have in school was at least one teacher who believed in him. Elvis’s fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Grimes, encouraged Elvis to enter a singing contest at the state fair. And I think we all know exactly what happened: yup, he came in fifth.
After he reached a high level of success, many years later in 1956, he was the headliner at the same state fair, and he went back to visit Mrs. Grimes. It would not be the last time he would go back to visit her. The lesson here is that we need people who believe in us. You each have lots of people who believe in you. I know. I’m one of them. The more specific lesson is that once you have achieved great success, you should go back and visit the teachers who believed in you. We really cannot thank our teachers enough. But we should try. I would not be where I am today if it were not for Mr. Thompson and Mr. Gunn.
Next lesson. For his 11th birthday, all Elvis wanted was a bicycle. His mother thought a bicycle was not safe and did not want him venturing too far from home, so she gave him… a guitar. That guitar cost $12 and might have the greatest return on investment of any gift ever. The big lesson here is to make the most of the gifts you are given. The more specific lesson is that if someone gives you a guitar you don’t want as a gift because all you really wanted was a sweet bicycle, you should use the guitar to record and sell over 600 million records.
Before he ever made a hit song, Elvis failed auditions to sing in bands. He paid to record a song called “Without You,” and it was not a hit, although an original copy of it would eventually sell for $300,000. Even when he started to have success, people criticized him for wearing eye makeup and having a kid-sized guitar that he was not actually good at playing. One thing that Elvis always did, though, was study music. When he would meet other musicians and songwriters, he would be able to list all of their songs he was a fan of and describe exactly what he liked about them. The lesson for you is to be yourself and really study the things you love.
When Elvis started to become popular, he was on the road touring and away from home for the first time. Instead of learning to do laundry, he would keep a dirty sock suitcase just for his dirty socks, and then he would just throw them away when the suitcase got full. The lesson we can learn is to embrace responsibility as you head out on your own for the first time. Just learn to do laundry, or whatever new task you have to complete for yourself, and don’t even think about having a dirty sock suitcase.
One good thing Elvis did while he was first touring was that he would call his mother every night from the road, and he would even make the other people on tour with him call their mothers to check in. Big lesson: check in with the people who care about you and try to be a positive influence on the people around you. Specific lesson: call your parents! Don’t wait for them to call you!
Throughout his whole life, Elvis loved his fans. He never told a fan he could not sign an autograph, even though he had to sign so many, because he knew he would have been telling one person no. He even let his fans sleep outside his house as long as they were quiet enough for his mom to rest. He was once mobbed by his fans after a concert in Jacksonville and had to run away from them and try to hide in a bathroom. When security found him, he had climbed up on top of a bathroom stall, and the fans were trying to pull his clothes off of him. Hopefully, your fans don’t mob you like this, but the lesson here is to be good to your fans. And who are your fans? These are your fans sitting out here staring you in the face, and you’ve got another lifelong fan standing up here, almost done giving you advice.
For anyone who does not know, Elvis was eventually undone by his drug use. He thought he could self-medicate himself out of any ailment. At one point, he admitted to being self-destructive, but he said he did not think there was anything he could do about it. Of course, there is always something we can do to help ourselves, and some of the earlier lessons we have learned from Elvis can help us when we feel helpless. The big lesson here is, in my mind: don’t do drugs, and never feel like you can’t ask for help. Elvis died at the age of 42, which is exactly how old I am now. I’m planning to continue living for a long time, and who knows how life would have turned out for Elvis if he had been able to live the second half of it. He would be 89 years old now. I like to think he would have just hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the tenth time, and that I would have seen his show in Vegas at least twice.
At Elvis’s funeral, Reverend Bradley said in his sermon that Elvis would not want anyone to think he had no flaws or faults. But now that he is gone, we can find it more helpful to remember his good qualities, and I hope that is true for all of us. I could end my speech by saying “don’t be like Elvis,” but the truth is, Elvis is one of the few people you can actually make a living by impersonating, and I think there are a lot of good and often very specific lessons we can learn from him.
To recap:
-Keep your goals tied to the people you care about and who care about you.
-We need people who believe in us.
-Make the most of the gifts you are given.
-Be yourself and study the things you love.
-Embrace responsibility.
-Check in with the people who care about you and try to be a positive influence on the people around you.
-Be good to your fans.
-And never feel like you can’t ask for help.
I will leave with two final quotes from Elvis, but now I am going to trust you to be able to interpret the general and specific lessons for yourselves. This is your final test in high school. Get ready. In a song called “Baby Let’s Play House,” Elvis sings, “Well, you may go to college, you may go to school, you may drive a pink Cadillac, but don’t you be nobody’s fool.” Watch out for the double negative and dive as deep as you would like into that lyrical masterpiece, which Elvis didn’t even write, but to which he did make one key revision. I will let you guess what part he added.
And to finish with the King’s possibly most famous saying, to all of you for listening and the class of 2025 for being themselves and allowing me to do the same, “Thank you, thank you very much.”
Student Awards: Longevity, Faculty Cup & Margaret White Campbell
Longevity Award
Presented by Upper School Director Tom Torrance
The esteemed Longevity Award is given to students who have attended The Colorado Springs School for their entire educational career, since Preschool, PreKindergarten, or Kindergarten.
Today, we honor Daniel Mansour—who began his journey at CSS in Kindergarten—and his family for their deep commitment to a CSS education and their lasting contributions to this community.
At this time, we would also like to recognize all teachers who have played a role in Daniel’s educational journey. Please stand to be honored. Thank you.
Please give Daniel and his family a round of applause for their loyalty, commitment, and school pride. Thank you.
Faculty Cup
Presented by Upper School Director Tom Torrance
The Faculty Cup is awarded to one senior whom the faculty recognizes as an exemplary representative of the CSS community.
The recipient of this year’s Faculty Cup has been a model student and model citizen in the two short years that we’ve enjoyed his presence at CSS. Embracing a new home, a new culture, and a new school community, Ziqian Michael Huang dove right in with a challenging academic schedule, including Advanced Calculus I&II, AP Language and Composition, Physics, Robotics, Spanish, World and U.S. History, and Yearbook. Facing the challenges of English in many forms, Michael persevered, never giving up or backing down.
As a mathematician extraordinaire, Michael could have rested on his laurels of innate giftedness; instead, he found pleasure in applying his natural abilities to such diverse areas as crime scene investigation, athletics, and volunteerism. He served our community as a peer tutor and PreKindergarten volunteer, and he wowed us all with impromptu magic shows.
His willingness to take risks and to “try it all” truly embodies some of the deepest values held by The Colorado Springs School. He has touched the hearts and minds of the faculty, administration, and his peers alike, not to mention his host family, who respect his ability to adapt to a family full of costumes and self-proclaimed “quirkiness” while bringing the whole family together with his incredible culinary skills and cultural sharing.
We could all learn some life lessons from this extraordinary young man, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will be enriched by his graceful, talented presence. Congratulations, Michael Huang, for receiving this year’s Faculty Cup award!
Margaret White Campbell Award
Presented by Alex Gardiner with the Class of 2014 and a past recipient of the Margaret White Campbell Award
The Margaret White Campbell Award, named for our founding Head of School, recognizes academic excellence, leadership,
service to the CSS community, and overall great character. Each year, this award is presented to the senior deemed by the Upper School faculty as that young person who best exemplifies the highest model of excellence in all areas.
This year’s honoree has worn many hats. First of all, she demonstrated incredible academic superiority in all of her classes beginning in elementary school and continuing throughout her senior year. Facing the most challenging academic courses, this young woman accepted those challenges and excelled in all areas.
She is gifted in Spanish, writing, science, and most notably, in art where one of her teachers offers that her “journey in the arts has been impressive…[for] not only does she put her all into learning, but she also infuses her artwork with a fun and peaceful quality that she has while making her art.” This “fun, peaceful quality” has earned her many awards, including first place in the Colorado Springs Young Artists’ Exhibition in 2024. Such prowess may be enough for some, but not for this young woman. Academics and art only filled some of her cup, leaving room for numerous leadership opportunities in student government (where this year she served as Forum president), in National Honor Society (again, president), and in clubs.
In all her remaining free time, she participated in every theater production in her four years of Upper School while also swimming for a local high school, working as a lifeguard, and coaching young swimmers.
Rightfully so, her incredible accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, for she received many accolades, including scholarships, art, and leadership awards. She was even honored by the class of 2024 with the Cup of ‘82. All of this recognition could have gone to her head, but no, she remains humble and noble and dedicated through it all.
If it isn’t obvious already, this student clearly fits the bill for our Upper School’s highest honor, so please join me in congratulating Norah Owens as this year’s Margaret White Campbell Award winner.
Senior Farewell by Daniel Mansour
Presented by Daniel Mansour '25
Good morning, all friends, family, teachers, and of course, my fellow graduates. We can finally say that we did it. Through all the late nights, early mornings, telling our parents that we need to run to the store for a project due the next day, and the homework that obviously got eaten by our dog, we’re here.
Graduating.
It feels surreal, doesn’t it? It feels like just yesterday we were walking into the high school for the first time as freshmen, wondering what was in store for us. Now we sit here with our caps and give our final goodbye to the school that has been our second home for the past few years.
I’d like to take a moment to thank all the people who helped us get to this point: All the teachers who saw potential in us, even when we handed in our assignments late. The parents and families who always picked us up when we were down, cheered us on no matter what, and occasionally reminded us that we are loved. And of course, let's not forget all that caffeine from Starbucks and Dutch bros.
Today isn't just about looking back, though. It's about looking forward. And I want to share something with you that changed my view on life forever.
Earlier this year, for ECS, I had the chance to travel to Senegal, in West Africa. It was an experience that left me with more than just some nice pictures and fun stories to come home with: It shook something inside of me awake.
Before I left, my life was… well, probably a lot like some of yours. We worry about things like getting good grades, figuring out which college is best for us, having the perfect girl or boyfriend, having the perfect car, or the perfect job.
But then, I got to Senegal.
And everything flipped.
I met people who didn't have a lot. Some of them didn't have running water or even electricity. They were just trying to put food on the table day after day. But the craziest thing is that they were happy doing it all.
They didn't stress about trying to be perfect. They didn't obsess over how many Instagram or TikTok likes their new post got. They just lived. Every single day. With the same positive attitude.
I remember walking through a small village where kids didn’t have any technology, just a small soccer ball. They were just there. Together. Alive. Having fun.
That hit me hard, because it made me realize how much time I spend—how much we spend—worrying about the wrong things.
And it made me think of someone I carry with me every single day: my grandpa.
He passed away a couple of years ago, but I still hear his voice sometimes, especially when I start to doubt myself. He was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.
He used to call me just to check in. And every time, we would start by talking about ice cream and what his favorite flavors were, but then he’d always ask, “How’s school? Are you getting good grades?” Not because he cared about straight A’s, but because he believed in who I could become. He used to tell me how proud he was, and how he couldn’t wait for the day I’d graduate. He talked about it like it was already certain. And even though he’s not sitting in the crowd today, I know he’s here. That kind of love never really leaves you. And I hope everyone here has someone like that—someone whose voice echoes in your heart, constantly reminding you to keep going and to believe in yourself.
I think that’s what Senegal and my grandpa both reminded me: that it’s not about chasing some perfect version of life.
So here’s the message I want to leave with my fellow seniors as we step into this next chapter of our lives:
Life doesn't need to be perfect. You don't need the perfect major, the perfect career plan, or the perfect relationship. You don't even need to know who you are yet. You just have to show up, be open to new things, be curious, be kind, and most importantly, be present. Life isn't about getting everything correct. It is about living in and making the best of the moment.
It’s dancing even when you don't know the song. It's laughing at your own jokes. It's making memories that don't need to be recorded.
College will be amazing, but it will also have difficult points. You're going to get frustrated and probably sit in the library at 2 a.m. worrying about an assignment due in five hours. You might fail a test. You might even switch majors multiple times or even switch colleges. But through all of that, you'll discover who you really are.
You’ll also find new passions, meet people who will change your life in good and bad ways, and discover things about yourself that you didn’t even know existed. But if you let yourself be present in the moment, you will find a kind of happiness that doesn't come from perfection but presence.
So I challenge all of you, including myself, to stop wasting time in life worrying about the little things. Go live your life to the fullest. Take the risks you never thought possible. Allow yourself to fall in love. Say yes even when it's a lot easier to say no. Travel. Laugh. Mess up. Learn. Grow.
You don't know how many days you have left, but you do know you have this one.
Don't just survive college. Don't just get through life. Live it.
And as J. Cole said, “There’s always gon’ be a car that’s better than the one you got. There’s always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock, there's always gonna be house out there with bigger doors… but you will never be happy until you love yours.”
Class of 2025, I'm proud of all of us, I believe in us, and I can't wait to see the roller coaster lives we go out and create from today onward.
So here's to new beginnings. I love you all, and congratulations.
