What a day! Under cloudy skies with the threat of rain looming (but thankfully holding off!), Falls Church City Public Schools celebrated the graduation of 222 exceptional young adults who have redefined what it means to be global citizens and community leaders. The Meridian High School Class of 2025 didn't just graduate today—they made history.
Breaking Records, Setting New Standards
This remarkable class achieved something unprecedented in our district's history: 72 students completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme requirements, making this the largest IB Diploma candidate cohort ever at Meridian High School. These students now await the official results from the International Baccalaureate organization this summer. We also celebrated our very first group of 17 International Baccalaureate Career-Related Program candidates, students who blazed a new trail by combining rigorous IB coursework with specialized career pathway studies.
The academic achievements speak volumes about the dedication of our students, families, and educators:
99 Valedictory Scholars earned cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or higher
112 students received the prestigious Meridian Scholar Award (3.85+ GPA with advanced academic requirements)
4 National Merit Scholarship finalists earned national recognition
Our first-ever cohort of Sustainability Scholars, who connected their learning to real-world environmental action
More Than Test Scores: Hearts and Hands Making a Difference
What truly sets the Class of 2025 apart isn't just their academic prowess—it's their heart. These students have demonstrated to us what it means to turn empathy into action and ideas into impact.
Hands to Hunger, founded by students Adam Belouad, Grace Calabrese, and Elbetel Kiros, grew from a local initiative into a national nonprofit with over 130 chapters, packing tens of thousands of meals for communities in need. When we say our students are globally minded, this is exactly what we mean.
The class also demonstrated their commitment to future Mustangs by joining forces with the Classes of 2023 and 2024 to donate $30,000 for a new stadium scoreboard—ensuring that future generations will see their achievements literally lit up on the field.
Voices of Wisdom and Reflection
The ceremony featured powerful speeches from Valedictory Scholars Adam Belouad and Molly Mostow, who captured the essence of what makes this class special. Adam spoke about the importance of listening to one another and the closeness that comes from growing up in our tight-knit 2.2-square-mile community. Molly, drawing inspiration from Billy Joel's "Vienna," challenged her classmates to "stay local" and focus on what they can control to create positive change.
"By staying local, we can affect the change that we want to see," Molly reminded her fellow graduates, embodying the community-first values that FCCPS has instilled in all of them.
A Farewell and a Legacy
Today's ceremony held special significance as it marked Dr. Peter Noonan's final graduation as our superintendent, preceding his well-deserved retirement. Dr. Noonan, who has led FCCPS with vision and heart for eight years, reflected on watching many of these students grow from fourth-graders to the remarkable young adults they've become.
"You've taught us to be kind, to be better listeners, and to care more deeply," Dr. Noonan told the graduates. "Walking with all of you for the last eight-plus years has been an honor of a lifetime."
The Falls Church Education Foundation honored Dr. Noonan's legacy by funding the Peter Noonan IB for All Award, presented to Adam Belouad for exemplifying what it means to be an IB learner.
Individual Excellence, Collective Impact
Throughout his address, Dr. Noonan highlighted individual students who embody the IB Learner Profile traits that define our educational approach:
Risk-takers like Lucy Hladky, Grace Calabrese, and Gia Khan, who created the "rejection wall" to normalize vulnerability and support their peers
Principled leaders like Preston Lieu, whose middle school essay about being mayor for a day showed his potential for civic leadership
Caring citizens like Joyce Tadesse Kassa, who serves on the National Zero Hunger Zero Waste Youth Advisory Council
Balanced achievers like our student-athletes who excelled both in the classroom and on the field, including our undefeated basketball team
A Bright Future Ahead
As our graduates head off to college campuses, gap year experiences, military academies (including the Air Force Academy and West Point), and career opportunities, they carry with them the values that make FCCPS and Meridian High extraordinary: kindness, curiosity, global-mindedness, and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.
Class of 2025, you've shown us what's possible when young people are given the tools, support, and encouragement to dream big and act with purpose. We couldn't be prouder of who you are and who you're becoming.
Congratulations, Mustangs! The world is waiting for you, and we know you're ready.
PHOTOS: Rehearsal, Procession, Speakers
PHOTOS: Cap Toss, Bell Ring, Congratulations
VIDEO: Meridian High School Class of 2025 Graduation
The graduation ceremony was held on the Meridian High School field, with nearly 1,100 family members, friends, and community members in attendance to celebrate these remarkable achievements.
FCCPS Photo: Carol Sly