In a moving ceremony rich with tradition and pride, Paul Roos Gimnasium officially said farewell to the Class of 2025 at its annual Valedictory Service held on Thursday evening in the school’s historic hall.
The event marked the culmination of a formative journey for more than 270 matriculants, celebrating not only academic and sporting excellence but also the enduring brotherhood that defines this storied institution. Rector Jannie de Villiers reflected on the year with a message of gratitude and encouragement, reminding the young men to “step boldly into the world as ambassadors of integrity, resilience and service.”
The programme included musical performances by the school choir and orchestra, the traditional candle-lighting ceremony symbolising the passing of the Paul Roos legacy, and the awarding of top academic and leadership honours.
Families, teachers and alumni gathered to applaud the achievements of a group who, as De Villiers noted, “have shown what it means to lead with purpose in a changing world.” As the Class of 2025 tosses their maroon caps into the Stellenbosch sky, they carry forward a legacy more than a century in the making.
