Bryleigh McBride, Freshman | Minot North High School

In a moment years in the making, Minot North High School marked a milestone on Sunday as the school celebrated its first-ever graduation ceremony, honoring the Class of 2025 in a memorable and meaningful event held at the Minot State University Dome.

The ceremony, rich with school spirit and significance, recognized the achievements of the pioneering class that helped shape the identity of Minot North in its inaugural year. From academics to athletics, music to leadership, the graduates have left an indelible mark on the school and community.

The ceremony opened with the 9th through 11th grade concert band, 12th grade band students cheering them on from their seats, diploma in hand, performing “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates entered the venue in navy and silver caps and gowns. The band, conducted by faculty director Jeremy Meinert, continued to play a key role throughout the program, performing “The Star-Spangled Banner”, and the Minot North school song.
The class was led by Valedictorian Jack Starkey, who addressed his fellow graduates with a speech that reflected on the challenges and triumphs of building a school culture from the ground up. Starkey spoke of the unique opportunity the Class of 2025 had to be utilized, not just completing their education, but defining the identity of a new school community. His remarks earned a grand applause from both students and guests.

Also taking the stage was senior Cadey Shipman, who delivered a heartfelt speech about growth, resilience, and the power of friendship. Shipman recalled the shared experience of being part of Minot North’s founding class, the adjustments made during the school’s opening year, and the friendships that formed along the way. Her words captured the emotional journey of a class that faced the unknown, and thrived.

More than just a commencement, the ceremony was a celebration of what Minot North has become in its first year: a school built on ambition, innovation, and community spirit. The Class of 2025 is the first to graduate from Minot North since it opened its doors in the fall of 2024, and their legacy is already being felt in the halls and history of the school.

The ceremony included a formal presentation of diplomas by Principal Mr. Harlan Johnson, who congratulated each graduate with a handshake and a smile. Family, friends, teachers, and local leaders filled the stands of the MSU Dome, cheering loudly for the students who helped launch a new chapter in Minot’s education history.
Each part of the event reflected Minot North’s values: respect, responsibility, and excellence. Decorations in school colors, featuring the Sentinel mascot, and the support of loved ones helped turn the MSU Dome into a space of celebration and reflection.

As the band played the school song one final time, graduates tossed their caps into the air, marking the end of their high school journey and the beginning of the next chapter. For many, it was a bittersweet farewell. Not only to classmates and teachers, but also to a year that was unlike any other.

With their diplomas in hand, streamers falling, the members of the Class of 2025 leave behind more than just memories. They leave a foundation. They were the first to walk the new hallways, the first to wear the navy and silver proudly, and now, the first to walk across the stage and graduate as Minot North Sentinels.
Their story is one of firsts. But for the Class of 2025, it is also just the beginning.