Santa Maria area high schools celebrate Class of 2025 during graduation ceremonies
Dave Alley
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ was the song of the day on Thursday throughout the Santa Maria Valley.
All three large public high schools in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) held graduation ceremonies during the day.
Pioneer Valley High School was the first to hand out diplomas, starting its commencement ceremony at 9 a.m.
Under ideal weather conditions, more than 3,500 people filled Panthers Stadium to cheer on a class numbering 669 graduates.
“We worked really hard to be here today,” said valedictorian Dayanna Soto. “I’m really excited. I think we are all really amazing students. I had the pleasure to work with them for four years. They’ve supported me through many battles that we’ve had together, through walking in the hallways with our masks on because of Covid to being here today. They were also very helpful and so I’m happy it was this class.”
Santa Maria High School held its graduation ceremony in Ralph Baldiviez Stadium for 715 students later in the morning at 11:30 a.m.
“It’s a special day,” said Kacey Van Horn, who served as president on Santa Maria’s award winning FFA program. “All of our hard work is paying off, and we get to celebrate each other. We’ve been together for the last four years and being able to come together and celebrate each other one last time before we go on to our future endeavors is super exciting.”
At 2 p.m., Righetti High School celebrated its Class of 2025 with a festive ceremony inside Warrior Stadium, where 550 purple-clad graduates received their diplomas.
“It really means a lot for me,” said valedictorian Dan Bishop. “Walking across with all of my fellow classmates, my friends. It’s really been a community that we’ve built here. Everyone in our class is really close. It’s really exciting to be here with everyone and experience this not just alone, but with the whole community.”
A day earlier, Delta High School, the continuation school for SMJUHSD, celebrated 550 graduates during a ceremony at Righetti’s Warrior Stadium.
In total, more than 2,000 students in the school district are receiving diplomas this year.
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