Dragons take flight: NCSSM-Morganton’s Class of 2025 graduates

Under a Carolina blue sky on Thursday, May 22, the North Carolina School of Science and Math-Morganton celebrated the graduation of its second class of residential students. The ceremony took place on the lawn in front of the picturesque barn on the Burke County campus.

Surrounded by administration and faculty members, as well as family and friends, 145 members of the Class of 2025 stepped into their next chapter.

Instructor of Music Tess Nielsen provided a musical prelude on piano before the ceremony began, then the senior class marched onto the lawn to the strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Alyssa Breeyear, Class of ‘25, sang the National Anthem just before Vice Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer Kevin Baxter introduced dignitaries attending the ceremony.

NCSSM Chancellor Todd Roberts welcomed all attendees, and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs Katie O’ Connor presented student speaker, Senior Shirina Baskaran.

Dane Humphrey, president of the Student Government Association welcomed Dr. Rahul Sampath, of UNC Health Blue Ridge, who delivered the commencement address.

Sampath is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, and a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He currently serves as Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency, Chair of Infectious Diseases, and President of the Medical Staff at UNC Health Blue Ridge.

Roberts offered words of praise for the graduating class.

“The 2025 class of Dragons will be remembered as pioneers who worked to shape the dynamic community that lives and learns at NCSSM-Morganton,” Roberts said. “I am extremely proud of this amazing and resilient group of students and look forward to following their many successes in the years to come.”

Baxter said, “I am incredibly grateful to our graduating seniors for the legacy they leave behind at NCSSM-Morganton. They have excelled in academic competitions, athletic contests, community-based projects and performances, and they achieved it all in the shadow of a gut-wrenching natural disaster.

“Each graduate possesses a future of limitless possibilities, and our team is very proud of this entire class of Dragons,” Baxter added.

The 9 a.m. ceremony was open to NCSSM seniors and their families. While the school welcomed the Class of 2026 (juniors) to participate in commencement, their attendance was not mandatory.

After the awarding of diplomas, the school hosted a congratulatory reception for the Class of ‘25 outside the school’s Academic Commons.