Desert Sands Unified honors summer graduates; superintendent certifies class of 2025
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Summary
Desert Sands Unified School District held its 2025 summer graduation ceremony to recognize students who completed requirements through summer school. Board President Dr. Kylie Watson and Indio Mayor Glenn Miller addressed graduates; Superintendent Dr. Kelly May Vollmer certified the class.
Desert Sands Unified School District held a summer graduation ceremony to recognize students who completed coursework during summer school and met district and state requirements for a high school diploma. Board President Dr. Kylie Watson and Indio Mayor Glenn Miller delivered remarks, and Superintendent Dr. Kelly May Vollmer formally certified the graduates.
The ceremony honored students from several district high schools and included a presentation of colors by the La Quinta High School Air Force Junior ROTC, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. "Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try," Dr. Kylie Watson told the graduates, quoting John F. Kennedy and urging them to take pride in completing coursework during the summer months.
The event matters to families and the district because it recognizes students who completed requirements outside the regular school year and confirms the district's administrative certification process. Superintendent Dr. Kelly May Vollmer said, "By the power vested in me by the state of California and the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education, it's with great pride that I officially recognize this class, the class of 2025 as graduates of the Desert Sands Unified School District." That statement served as the district's formal certification that the listed students met the requirements set by the state and the district.
Mayor Glenn Miller, representing the City of Indio, spoke to graduates about next steps after high school and encouraged them to follow their passions: "If you have passion and love for what you do, then you'll always enjoy it." He also said the region offers broad opportunities for work and education and congratulated students and their families.
The ceremony included announcements of individual graduates by school groups; administrators and district cabinet members were introduced onstage, including assistant superintendents Jordan Aquino, Dr. Joseph Hyde and Laura Fisher, and senior directors Dr. David Gustafson and Jason Mills. Principals representing summer and regular programs were acknowledged, and the La Quinta High School Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors.
No votes or policy changes occurred during the ceremony; the primary formal action was the superintendent's certification and the board's presentation acknowledging the graduates. The district did not specify a total count of summer-school graduates during the remarks. Additional administrative details — including how summer coursework was verified or the exact list of diploma recipients beyond those announced aloud — were not specified during the ceremony.