Leaving the sandbar: Seabreeze High School Class of 2025 celebrates graduation

The class saw close to a 99% graduation rate as 345 Seabreeze seniors graduated at the Ocean Center on Friday, May 30.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 8:20 a.m. June 3, 2025
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Neighbors
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As "king crab," Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris addressed the crowd during the commencement ceremony at the Ocean Center on Friday, May 30 with the same Sandcrab exuberance he has used for the past three years.

Harris thanked Seabreeze alumni and everyone in attendance for their continued support, saying that support is one of the many reasons Seabreeze remains a beacon of excellence and tradition.

“As you have heard me say many times, Seabreeze is more than a school, it is a community —that of value, resilience and a shared identity,” he said. “One of our most cherished symbols is our sandbar. Unlike natural sandbars that shift with the tides, ours is steadfast. It is a place of safety, growth and transformation.”

Over the past four years, Harris said the class of 2025 has learned, grown, succeeded and stumbled, while Seabreeze teachers and staff stood watch over them as their educational lifeguards.

“Now you’re ready to leave the sandbar and step into deeper waters,” he said. “The crab is a very powerful symbol. It’s resilient, adaptable and always evolving. You’ve shown strength in diversity, you’ve embraced vulnerability with courage. You’ve grown into thoughtful, capable young adults and I’m so, so proud of the people you’ve become.”

He took a moment to reflect on the class’ achievements.

Class of 2025 had 345 graduates. They completed over 26,462 hours of community service and were awarded over $11,000,000 in scholarships. GPA percentages included 71% with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and 51% graduating with honors and a GPA of 3.5 or higher. All 26 athletic teams maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Harris said that even with increased graduation requirements, their graduation rate was close to 99%.

By adding an industry certification to their existing high school diploma, 206 students were able to earn their industry scholarship designation. A total of 93 students increased their academic workload and attained their scholar designation. 

Ten high school graduates dual enrolled at Daytona State College and earned their associates degrees on May 13. Fourteen seniors achieved the Seal of Biliteracy and 33 students were recognized by the Florida Seal of Fine Art. Eleven graduates have signed up to serve in various branches of the military.

Seabreeze offers the Advanced International Certificate of Education, or AICE, and Advancement Via Individual Determination, known as AVID. Both programs provide students with an advanced curriculum and prepare them for a college-level education, with AICE being a program overseen by the University of Cambridge. Twelve students participated in AVID and 39 students were AICE diploma recipients.

All three graduation speakers — Anna Buckmaster, Amanda Martin and William Reece — earned their AICE diplomas. Reece referenced the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. He said that the verse most pertinent to the graduating class is “I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

“Lamps are symbols of learning preparation,” Reece said. “… From day one at Seabreeze, there were teachers and administrators who handed us our golden lamps and through careful teaching methodology, turned those lamps so that light would always shine.”

Buckmaster said it is important to find comfort and significance in who you are and what you have to offer. 

“Now and always, I encourage you to practice reflection, embrace individuality, encourage creativity, contribute to your own success,” she said. “Make sure you’re at peace with where you are, what you have done and where you are going.”

In closing, Harris reiterated that the graduates were ready to leave the sandbar and explore deeper waters.

“As your school dad or king crab, as some of you like to say, I know you’re ready,” Harris said. “You’ve got the strength, you’ve got the heart and, yes, you’ve got the claws to navigate whatever comes next. So go forth with confidence … and remember what I say, 'Always work hard and be nice.' And don’t you ever forget: Once a Sandcrab, always a Sandcrab. Boom.”

 

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