KOROR, Palau — A total of 163 students graduated from high schools across Palau this year, marking a significant milestone for the Class of 2025. Families, friends and educators gathered with pride and emotion as students celebrated the culmination of their high school journeys.
Emmaus-Bethania High School opened the graduation season with 10 graduates, followed by Palau Mission Academy with 11, and Belau Modekngei School with nine. Palau High School, the nation’s largest secondary institution, celebrated the graduation of 111 students. The season concluded with Mindzenty High School, which graduated 32 students last Sunday.
While the ceremonies marked the end of one chapter, they also signaled the beginning of new paths for these graduates. Many students have already secured summer internships with government agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations. Others are preparing to begin college in the fall, having received acceptance letters from institutions both in Palau and abroad.
Palauan graduates are uniquely positioned to pursue higher education through a variety of local and international opportunities. Numerous scholarships are available through partnerships with allied countries, and students who choose to study in the United States often qualify for in-state tuition rates and federal financial aid due to Palau’s Compact of Free Association with the U.S.
Many students are opting to study overseas, taking advantage of these benefits to access high-quality education and global career pathways. At the same time, others have chosen to stay in Palau and enroll at Palau Community College, using the time to explore career options and build a solid foundation for their future.
As the Class of 2025 turns the page to this next chapter, they do so with unprecedented access to education and opportunity—whether at home or abroad. (By: L.N. Reklai)