On an evening blessed with almost perfect weather, New Prague High School and the community celebrated the graduation of 310 seniors Friday evening at Trojan Stadium.
The commencement ceremony featured a recognition and remembrance of the Class of 2025’s years in school, the challenges they faced and their successes.
Senior Isaiah Podratz reminded his classmates that just as Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, Podratz had a dream as a ninth-grader of being in a world where people didn’t have to fearthe pandemic and would one day be back to a semi-normal world as 10th-graders. As juniors, the classmates began to envision life after high school. As seniors, Podratz said he and his classmates could celebrate their final year before continuing their education elsewhere, joining the workforce or beginning military service.
“Just as MLK fought for his dream,” he said, “go out and fight for yours.”
Referencing the trees on the east side of Trojan Stadium, social studies teacher Allison Olson, a NPHS alum and speaker selected by students to address the class, encouraged the students to take on a growth mindset and “remember your roots” when thinking about family, friends and teachers who supported you. “Your trunk is strong. Your roots run deep,” she said. “Always remember your roots as they are backing you up.”
Olson encouraged the graduates to...
To see more on this story pick up the May 29, 2025 print edition of The New Prague Times.
New Prague High School bids Class of 2025 a fond farewell
