Hundreds of graduating seniors and their proud families and friends filled Righetti High School’s Warrior Stadium on Thursday afternoon for graduation for the class of 2025, totaling 550.

Principal Ted Lyon and many of the student speakers noted that this year’s graduating class is one marked by resilience and perseverance.

“The class of 2025 holds a special place in my heart,” Lyon said. “You were my first freshman class as principal here at Righetti. You rolled into school in the fall of 2021, masks on, and ready to get things started after over a year of distancing and quarantine.”

Calling the class of 2025 an “academic powerhouse,” valedictorian Dane Bishop praised the 71 University of California acceptances among his classmates, and Lyon said the class accumulated $600,000 in scholarships.

“We have the potential and the means to make a lasting impact in this world,” Bishop said. “It’s not about the grades or the awards. It’s about who we’ve become.”

In addition to the words of wisdom from speakers, Thursday afternoon’s commencement ceremony included several musical performances by students and the school’s choir, such as performances of “Vienna” by student Bloom Carrera; the national anthem and “A Million Dreams” by the school’s varsity choir and Madrigals; “Slipping Through My Fingers” by student Elle Dela Cruz; and “I Was Here” by student Cheniah Williams.

Lyon said 156 graduating seniors reported acceptances into four-year universities, others plan to attend Allan Hancock College, and more than a dozen have enlisted in one of the branches of the United States military.

In addition to the class’ many academic and athletic accomplishments, Lyon praised the school’s performing arts departments. He boasted that Samantha McDonald was crowned as Righetti High School’s third consecutive rodeo queen at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo at the end of May.

Co-salutatorians Nathan Freeland and Vincent Johnson said the class is filled with “voters, artists, engineers, activists and entrepreneurs,” and advised them to continue forward and “don’t stop.”

“Keep questioning, keep creating, keep showing up even when it’s tough, because the world doesn’t need perfect people; it needs people who care enough to try,” Freeland and Johnson said. “And when you fail — and you will, because we all do — remember this moment, remember this class, this community, this resilience we’ve built.”

Want to celebrate a graduate in your life? Submit your own graduation announcement to Noozhawk’s Class of 2025 showcase.