‘With eager and open hearts,’ Vail Christian High School graduates Class of 2025

Tassels were tied and spirits were high at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater on Saturday morning as family, friends and faculty gathered to honor Vail Christian High School’s Class of 2025.

Forty-one graduates took their seats on stage as speakers reflected on a class that has evolved over the years from bright-eyed freshmen full of quirks to esteemed scholars with futures full of promise.

“What a glorious morning it is,” Head of School Steve O’Neil said to the audience before giving a brief history of the amphitheater and its founders. Since the high school usually holds its graduation ceremonies at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, which is closed this season for spring renovations, O’Neil used the new venue as an opportunity to educate the crowd on Vail’s early pioneers, offering an important tie-in to his graduates.

“So what’s the lesson? Most times, realizing a vision, seeing a vision come to fruition, takes time. Class of 2025, when I think of you, I think of pioneers, a class with vision, a vision you had for yourselves, and a vision that you had for our school,” O’Neil said.

The head of school then continued to name every graduate, and a quality about each that he admired before closing with, “You’re well prepared with the skills necessary for success, in both college and life.”

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Salutatorian Adam Labenski credited his classmates’ preparedness for the future to a “shared drive to excel and build each other up.”

“When we first walked through the halls freshman year, we were awkward, young, and very stupid. We did many things we regret, some more than others,” Labenski said. “But I look at us now. We’ve all grown, not just in height, well, mostly, but in confidence, maturity, and most importantly, in our relationships with each other. We became a family, one that laughs together, one that lifts each other up.”

“Every day, every moment, every class, good or bad, was each a new and exciting experience, making us stronger people. And although our high school years might be ending, we are here to celebrate the lessons and memories we’ve shared that will stay with us long after graduation.”

On a similar theme, Valedictorian Samuel “Sammy” Moberg reflected on a class “so well-rounded that we can do anything.”

“We see the brilliance of others, and we come together to create something amazing,” Moberg said in a speech that began with a Nelson Mandela quote — “Education is the most powerful tool that we can use to support change in this world,” — and ended with a quote from poet Omar Khayyam — “The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.”

“What we do cannot be undone,” Moberg said. “What we accomplish will always have an effect. How we go about life impacting others will be our legacy. So let us endeavor to learn more. Let us help others in need. Let us spread our beliefs throughout the world. Let us do anything that makes us happy. Let us use our education, as Nelson Mandela said, to make tremendous change. Let us come together as a community to make impact where we see fit.”

Following Labenski, Eric “Sco” Scofield delivered the commencement address. Scofield is the senior vice president for the Norwood Development Group in Colorado Springs. He also worked with Young Life for 32 years and was a youth pastor. Scofield had crossed paths with these 2025 Saints before, enough that O’Neil and his graduates casually referred to him by his nickname.

Scofield also has a son graduating from high school this weekend, a point he used to convey his understanding of all these kids have been through, including being born around the same time the iPhone was released, and how a global pandemic had impacted their middle school years, culminating in a graduating class of “fiercely independent” individuals. From there, Scofield offered a “travel kit” for the bright young minds as they prepare for “adulting.” The kit included a metaphorical yellow chair for facing life’s problems with grace, and a new title to take with them: dream makers.

“A dream maker is somebody who says, ‘You know what? I’m going to help other people fly. I’m going to make a difference.’ And that’s what I see in this class,” Scofield said.

Between the speakers, the hugs and the receiving of diplomas were a few popular songs performed by some of the graduates, and the final line — from a song in “Wicked” — was sung with extra emphasis.

“Because I know you, I’ve been changed for good.”