Written by: Ansley Hall and published in The Martinsburg Journal on May 22, 2025, link to the article HERE.
SPRING MILLS — Students lined up outside the Spring Mills High School football field on Thursday as they prepared to take the next step in their lives.
Friends and family gathered to celebrate and recognize the 391 graduates as they received their high school diplomas.
Lyza Bryan, Sophie Taylor and Paige Houghton were just three of the graduates this year, each earning Summa Cum Laude by completing high school with a GPA 3.8 or above. To them, the graduation ceremony just marked the beginning. It was a time for them to look back and see all the people who have supported them, while also looking forward to a bright future.
“It’s all about starting the next chapter of our lives,” Houghton said. “We’re all about to go off to college, and I’m really looking forward to that. It also shows maturity. It’s a important part of growing up.”
Both Bryan and Houghton plan on getting a degree in nursing, attending West Virginia University and James Madison University, respectively. Taylor plans on attending Shepherd University, where she will pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. Each of these young women wants to make a difference by helping others, and they are excited for their next journey.
They encouraged the next group of seniors to get out of their comfort zone, try new things and take in every moment. They urged them not to worry about what others think, while Bryan added that they should make sure to get plenty of Starbucks drinks.
During the ceremony, the graduates heard from several of their peers, including Mattelyn McDaniel, Sydney Bostic and Grace Fling. They also heard from Principal Mark Salfia, who talked about how important this moment is for the students and their families.
“As we watch a community form around us, our students are able to create a legacy in real time,” Salfia said. “Their footprint is much broader than at a school with 100 years of traditions. With this opportunity comes great responsibility. The Class of 2025 has taken on this responsibility head on. Our school is alive in a way we’ve never seen before. Our community connection is strong and growing stronger. Being a Cardinal means something to this class, and because of that, it means something to all classes to follow.”
The Class of 2025 also made history with its academic accomplishments, earning $5,270,019 in scholarships. Salfia noted that this is the highest number in the history of Berkeley County Schools. Students have committed to 37 different schools to continue their education. Out of the 391 graduates, 16 students plan on entering the military.
Spring Mills High School’s Class of 2025 is ready to go out and make its mark on the world.