Marysville Exempted Village Schools hold commencement; principals certify 391 graduates

Charlotte Ali Forerider opened Marysville Exempted Village School District’s commencement ceremony, welcoming families and saying the event would honor “approximately 391 students who have completed their education in Marysville Schools and will be receiving their high school diplomas.”

The ceremony included two student commencement addresses — Lillian McKinney of Marysville STEM Early College High School and Neil Patel of Marysville High School — recognition of academic awards and college credits, and a formal certification by Principal Ken Chaffin that the graduating candidates had met the district’s requirements. “I would now like to certify that all 391 candidates for graduation before you this evening have indeed met all requirements outlined by the Ohio Department of Education and our Board of Education and are eligible to receive their diploma as a graduate of Marysville Schools,” Chaffin said.

Why it matters: the ritual confirmed completion of state and district requirements for this year’s class and publicly recognized students’ academic and extracurricular achievements. The ceremony noted multiple honors (including state honors diplomas and President’s Education Awards recognition), college credits earned through a partnership with Columbus State Community College, and students who intend to enter military service.

Key details: Ben Jones explained the district’s valedictorian designation and said “This year, we have 73 students who have achieved this level of academic excellence.” Christine Tululepe Anderson recognized students who completed Columbus State Community College associate degrees through the district partnership and called those graduates by name. Principal Scott Bennett of Marysville STEM Early College High School praised the class’s mix of academic achievement and community spirit; Ken Chaffin, principal of Marysville High School, described the graduates as “ambitious, resilient, accomplished, and kind.”

Student addresses emphasized reflection and forward momentum. Lillian McKinney told her classmates, “It’s okay to be excited for the future, but don't get so caught up in the race to tomorrow that you forget where you're at,” urging peers to “sit in this moment” as they transition. Neil Patel urged graduates to shape their own paths, saying, “This is your story. Now go make it worth telling.”

Other acknowledgments at the ceremony included musical performances by the Marysville band and Symphonic Choir under the direction of Steven Fannin and Brianna Bizzaro, lists of graduates and presenters for individual diploma calls, and the ceremonial cap toss to close the program.

No policy changes or board votes were taken; the program was ceremonial and celebratory, and the only formal administrative action recorded during the ceremony was Chaffin’s certification of eligibility for the listed candidates.