Sumner High School held its Class of 2025 commencement at Harrisville State University, where St. Louis Public Schools officials and community and alumni leaders recognized graduates, honored an inaugural class of arts scholars and the principal formally verified that students met state graduation requirements.

In brief remarks near the end of the ceremony, Sumner Principal Dr. Rhonda Wallace said, “by the power vested in me, by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Board of Education of St. Louis City, I hereby verify that these students have met all requirements for graduation and are now graduates of the Sumner High School.”

The verification followed speeches from St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Millicent Borichade and community leaders. Dr. Borichade opened the program and congratulated the graduates, saying, “the very air in this space crackles” with the moment. Erin Williams, president of the neighborhood organization For the Ville, described four years of community effort to keep Sumner open, saying the school faced a possible closure and that “there was no way you could close Sumner High School. And to be clear, we're broke.” Williams and school leaders also noted that Sumner has been removed from “comprehensive” status within district accountability processes and presented the inaugural class of arts scholars.

The inaugural arts scholars were recognized on stage; staff and community presenters named students and their program pathways, including Museum Studies, photography, dance, music and fashion. Erin Williams introduced the awards and said each scholar received an engraved star marking the inaugural class. Student speakers included valedictorian Renaya Snow and salutatorian Egypt Hills, who delivered addresses to classmates and families.

The ceremony began with an announced weather delay and instructions from venue staff that attendees should remain inside the auditorium if sirens sounded. Later in the event, organizers asked attendees to remain seated briefly while staff coordinated the procession and distribution of awards; graduates were later allowed to toss caps and were directed to reseat for further instruction. Alumni association president Kim Garrett delivered a presentation, and school counselors and staff coordinated the graduates’ exit.

Sumner High School was repeatedly identified during the program as a historic institution: speakers referenced the school as the oldest Black high school west of the Mississippi and noted the school’s 150th anniversary and ongoing community legacy. The program included multiple community recognitions—including a charge from the alumni association and presentations by neighborhood partners—before the graduates processed out to music.