Today during W4 and PRIDE Time, 2025 IB Graduates returned to the AHS hallways to be awarded their IB Diploma Certificates. While not all were present, 73 students in total received the diploma. IB junior and senior candidates as well as select sophomores attended the ceremony in the auditorium.

Principal Shawn DeRose opened the ceremony by explaining the unique opportunities provided to students through the IB diploma at AHS, and how the diversity of our school gave them a Special high school experience. 

Next, IB Coordinator, Linda Bradshaw, emphasized the immense effort students put into receiving the diploma and how happy she is to see them again. 

“It’s very rewarding to see how they’ve survived their first year of college, and how successful and thriving they are,” Bradshaw said. “It’s one of my favorite days of the year, because all the skills that they learned in high school really helped benefit them when they’re in college and they’re doing so well and studying such a diverse group of subjects.” 

Social Studies Department Lead and IB teacher Kimberly Falvey took stage and reminisced on memories with IB students in her IB Psychology and IB Geography classes while further commending their perseverance.

Finally, graduate and diploma recipient Safa Touri, who attends the University of Virginia (UVA), reflected on her journey to obtain the diploma and even jokingly shared how in multiple university classes she has completed more than double of what was required for assignments due to her IB training.

Principal DeRose and IB Theory of Knowledge teacher Timothy Kelly presented the awards as students were called to the stage.

Afterwards, alumni spoke about their college experiences, touching on how skills learned in their IB classes assisted them in their first semester, homesickness, tips for living on your own, how to navigate relationships with professors and useful resources available at university.

In college, “You have to take accountability for your own time and you have to want to do good, want to do better and have to actually [put in] the effort because your parents are not around. So, you need to take responsibility for your work, your extra-curriculars, and everything you want to do,” diploma recipient Heliana Worku, who is majoring in nursing at UVA, said in her response to a discussion question at the ceremony.

Once the ceremony ended, alumni gathered in Bradshaw’s office and enjoyed refreshments before visiting their former teachers.