Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Desert Sands Unified superintendent certifies Shadow Hills High School Class of 2025 as graduates
Summary
At Shadow Hills High School’s commencement in Indio, Superintendent Dr. Kelly May Volmer certified that members of the Class of 2025 met district policies and the California Education Code; speeches, musical performances and academic honors—including 78 summa cum laude graduates—were part of the ceremony.
Superintendent Dr. Kelly May Volmer, representing the Desert Sands Unified School District, officially recognized the Shadow Hills High School graduating class of 2025 and certified that, to her knowledge, each student had met district policies and requirements of the California Education Code.
The ceremony at Shadow Hills featured remarks from Principal Dr. David Dunn and board member Michael Duran, musical performances by the school’s ensembles and choirs, presentation of Latin honors, and the presentation of diplomas under the direction of school counselors.
Dr. David Dunn, principal of Shadow Hills High School, opened his remarks praising the class’s character and resilience, saying, “They are unique and resilient.” He recounted recent senior activities, noting the logistical scale of the trips and expressing relief that students returned safely; in his remarks he referenced taking “325” students on a beach trip (at one point he also referred to “327”) and later said, “we all made it back, all 325.”
Board member Michael Duran addressed graduates with a short commencement speech that contrasted the value of small things with more spectacular moments, telling students that “it’s not about the penny’s monetary worth; it’s about the meaning we give to little things.” Student leaders also spoke: senior class president Isabella Nunez reflected on loss and perseverance, saying, “We did. Not because it was easy, but because we kept going.” ASB executive president Priscilla Guajardo told classmates it was all right not to have every next step planned and closed with a pop-culture line: “If you're happy doing what you're doing, no 1 can tell you you're not successful.”
Counselor Manny Ramirez recognized academic distinctions and explained Latin honor thresholds for the audience, listing summa cum laude for a 4.0 and above, magna cum laude for GPAs between 3.75 and 3.99, and cum laude for GPAs between 3.5 and 3.74. Ramirez said the school had “78 graduating this evening as summa” honors.
Musical performances included pieces by the Symphonic Band and the Royal Voices in Harmony under directors Willard Lacro and Grace Hoosier. After the superintendent’s certification, counselors Manny Ramirez, Eliana Sanchez, Griselda Munoz and Adam Vasquez led the presentation of diplomas and the customary turning of tassels; senior class president Isabella Nunez presided over the tassel-turning for graduates.
The ceremony also acknowledged local and tribal land stewardship in opening remarks and included elected and appointed local officials in the audience; Dr. Volmer used the phrase, “By the power vested in me by the state of California and the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education,” when formally recognizing the graduates.
Less-formal elements of the event included greeters who welcomed families in multiple languages and a closing note that graduates should remain seated for a scheduled fireworks display.
Attendance and logistics were prominent in speakers’ remarks: multiple staff and district officials were introduced onstage, and the program read several hundred individual graduate names during the diploma presentation.
The ceremony concluded with the superintendent’s congratulations and the official recognition of the Shadow Hills High School Class of 2025 as graduates.
