The gym of Umatilla High School was filled with proud families, friends, and faculty on Saturday, June 7, as the class of 2025, the school’s largest class to date, crossed the stage in celebration of their hard work and accomplishments. With 107 graduates, this year’s ceremony was not only a moment of reflection but one of record-breaking achievement.
Principal Jared Tesch opened the ceremony by honoring the strength and resilience of the graduation class. “Today is not just about finishing your senior year,” he told students. “It is a capstone on your entire K-12 experience. You’ve learned resilience, the importance of friendship, and the value of showing up.”
Principal Tesch also took a moment to remember Pedro Figueroa Mendoza, a beloved member of the senior class who passed away last summer. A chair in the graduates’ section, adorned with a teddy bear and photos, served as a tribute to his lasting impact on classmates and the community.
The accomplishments of the class of 2025 were on full display. Collectively, students earned 3,171 college credits, an estimated value of nearly half a million dollars, thanks to dual credit programs offered mostly in partnership with Blue Mountain Community College, Eastern Oregon University, and Arizona State University. Seventeen students earned both their high school diploma and an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree and will walk at Blue Mountain Community College’s commencement on June 11.
These students are: Valeria Alaniz-Benitez, Moises Almonte Altamirano, Alyssa Bow, Valerie Campos-Mendoza, Camila Chavez Lopez, Alex Enkey, Alejandro Espinoza, Avery Gutierrez, Ciralynn Larsen, Jada Longoria, Abraham R Mendoza Salgado, Joshua Mendoza-Lemus, Briseida Mendoza-Rodriguez, Xitlaly Moya-Morales, Dulce Serrano-Coria, Sara Wilson, and Liliana Zuniga Gutierrez.
Principal Tesch thanked the school board for their commitment to students by covering the cost for every credit earned.
In addition to academic success, students were recognized for earning the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy, completing career and technical education programs, and participating in a wide range of clubs and leadership roles. Altogether, students have been awarded $1,867,835 in scholarships, not including pending awards and federal grants.
Valedictorian Alyssa Bow delivered a speech that encouraged her classmates to carry forward the lessons they’ve learned. “Well after today, our teachers won’t be there for us everyday. It’s up to us to take what we’ve learned and to apply it to real life,” she said, “So I hope you remember this: laziness will crush your ambition, fear will impact your dreams and doubt will destroy your confidence. But if we apply what our teachers have tried to instill in us, we can flip this around. So instead, it would be: Our ambition will crush laziness, our big dreams will conquer fear, and our confidence will silence all doubt.”
Superintendent Heidi Sipe shared a message of support as students prepared to leave high school and begin their next chapter. “Exciting futures await you, but there's going to be some trepidation and some fear, and I want you to look around. You've been looking in the audience for these faces since you were in kindergarten. And I want you to see who's here for you today, and I want you to think about the ways in which they've shown up for you your whole life. These are the same faces that are going to be here for you throughout your future that's to come. When you have a day full of celebration and you're really proud to tell someone something, call them. Don't just text. Call them. When you're having a really tough day and you're not sure what to do, call them. They're here for you today. They're here for you, always. I know they're proud of you, just as I am.”
Following Superintendent Sipe’s remarks, the Class of 2025 crossed the stage one by one to receive their diplomas, cheered on by proud family members and the Umatilla community.
To view all photos from the commencement ceremony, visit this link.