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‘You are starting from Aspen’: Olympic snowboarder reminds AHS graduates of special upbringing

Nearly 140 AHS seniors became graduates on Saturday

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Austin Colbert

Led by head students Tommy Franceschi and Lenna Persson, front left, the graduates toss their caps into the air to conclude the Aspen High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times

Gretchen Bleiler used Aspen as a launching pad, eventually taking her snowboard career to the Olympics and to superstardom.

A 1999 Aspen High School graduate, the multi-time X Games champion in the halfpipe wanted to remind this year’s graduating class of their shared unique beginning.

“You are stepping into a world full of unknowns. But you are not starting from nothing. You are starting from Aspen,” she said. “From mountains that taught you resilience, from a community that believes in possibility, and from the spirit inside you that’s ready to soar. My wish for you is not just that you succeed, but that you become more you with every step, that you dare to live not just a life of achievement, but a life of meaning.”

Bleiler, who won silver at the 2006 Winter Games, was chosen as the commencement speaker for Saturday’s graduation ceremony held inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen. Nearly 140 AHS seniors became graduates by the end of the roughly two-hour event.

Aspen and its holistic, outdoorsy approach to life was a central theme.


“You’ve helped define what it means to be a student at Aspen High School,” AHS Principal Sarah Strassburger told the graduates. “You’ve also shown us what it means to grow up in Aspen. It’s not just a place of natural beauty but a community that encourages big thinking, brave conversations, and real responsibility.”

Speakers included Luna Murray, who graduated magna cum laude and will attend the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and Giovanni Seeman, a future student at the University of San Diego who graduated summa cum laude. In recent years, AHS has picked a Pyramid speaker (Seeman, chosen by the students) and a Capitol speaker (Murray, chosen by the faculty) en lieu of more traditional valedictorian and salutatorian honors.

“This is Aspen. It’s a place where the outdoors isn’t a break from the classroom — it is the classroom,” Seeman said. “Aspen isn’t just a school or ski town. It’s a space where you are not only allowed but encouraged to be curious, adventurous, awkward, overwhelmed, and inspired, sometimes all at once.”

Aspen School District Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry also addressed the graduates, playing a dual role as both administrator and parent as his own daughter, Matilynn Mulberry, was among those to walk across the stage on Saturday.

“As your superintendent, and as a proud father watching my own daughter graduate today, I stand before you filled with immense pride and gratitude,” he said. “It is clear our students have demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence that is truly inspiring.”

Former professional snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler delivers the commencement address during the Aspen High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Graduate Matilynn Mulberry, left, shares a moment with her father, Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry, after picking up her diploma during the Aspen High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Capitol speaker Luna Murray, center, is embraced by her parents prior to talking during the Aspen High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Pyramid speaker Giovanni Seeman talks during the Aspen High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, inside the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times

Musical performances by the graduates included James Nottingham singing “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding; Kurtis Kowar on cello playing alongside Belle Voci and the Aspen Voices choirs; and Colby Vanderaa singing “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane.

Bleiler’s class address was naturally the centerpiece of the ceremony. Her talk was less about her standout career and more about overcoming her own mental health issues, which included her being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her transition to studying spiritual psychology in Santa Monica.

“It was in that darkness, not under the spotlight, that my most important growth happened. The kind of growth no one sees, the kind that isn’t rewarded, the kind most people spend their lives avoiding,” she said. “As you step into your infinite potential ahead, don’t be afraid of your shadow. When we have the courage to face the parts of ourselves we’d rather avoid, we unlock the key to our deepest healing, our greatest strengths, and our truest selves.”

Dr. Christa Gieszl, president of the school board, certified the diplomas. Head students Lenna Persson and Tommy Franceschi led the tassel change.

During the faculty recognition, Strassburger also gave a special shout out to Becky Oliver. Part of the Aspen School District the past 23 years, most recently serving as AHS assistant principal, Oliver is set to become principal at Carbondale Community School.

“I am so grateful for her dedication, her passion, and for the huge heart she brings to everything she does,” Strassburger said. “We are all better because of Becky and we will miss her dearly, but we are excited for her next chapter.”

acolbert@aspentimes.com

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