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Entrada Adult High School graduates 184 students; 110 attend ceremony
Summary
Entrada Adult High School held its 2025 graduation ceremony, recognizing 184 students who completed the adult high school program; 110 were present. District leaders, teachers and three student speakers highlighted persistence, two classroom grants were noted, and the district certified the graduating class.
Dr. Rick Robbins, superintendent of the Canyons School District, and school and board leaders on Wednesday certified the Entrada Adult High School class of 2025 during a graduation ceremony that honored 184 students who completed the district's adult high school requirements; 110 graduates attended the event.
The ceremony at the Entrada auditorium featured three student speakers who described personal struggles and persistence, recognition of staff and teachers, and brief acknowledgments of two classroom grants that funded new science and film equipment.
Why it matters: The ceremony formally recognizes students who completed requirements set by the Utah State Board of Education and the Canyons School District Board of Education. For many adult learners, the diploma represents a milestone tied to employment, further education or personal goals.
Dr. Rick Robbins opened the official certification by saying he accepted the district—s recommendation that the class be awarded diplomas, and he invoked the authority of both the Canyons Board of Education and the Utah State Board of Education when presenting the class for graduation. During the program, board member Karen Pedersen separately stated that, by her authority as an elected board member, she certified the class as having completed graduation requirements.
Student speakers focused on perseverance and transformation. Gavin Rice told the audience that "effort is everything," describing late nights and sacrifices that led to his diploma. Edwin Giovanni Estrada Garcia recounted dropping out the previous year and returning to finish, saying simply, "I made it." Lehi Walker described overcoming homelessness, a learning disability and family hardship while earning credits and finding housing; Walker thanked specific staff for support.
The program also recognized staff achievements and classroom grants. The school noted Entrada was named the state's best overall adult education school by the Utah State Board of Education this year. Principal Vettgar recognized the school's 2025 teacher of the year, Lanny Sorensen, who was not present. The ceremony acknowledged two classroom grants reported in the program: Rachel Coleman received a $5,000 grant to acquire hand-held data-collection tools for science instruction, and Bailey Riley received a $6,000 grant to buy professional-grade cameras and audio equipment for a film production class.
Officials asked attendees to remain in the auditorium after the ceremony for orderly exit and to avoid confetti in the facility. The program concluded with the symbolic tassel turn and presentation of the graduates.
Quotes in context: Dr. Rick Robbins said, "Getting back up is the only backup plan you need," urging graduates to view setbacks as part of perseverance. Gavin Rice said, "Effort is everything." Edwin Giovanni Estrada Garcia said, "I made it." Those quotes were delivered during student remarks and the superintendent's address and were recorded in the ceremony transcript.
Ceremonial actions and next steps: The ceremony included two formal certifications: Principal Vettgar recommended that the graduates be awarded diplomas; Dr. Rick Robbins accepted that recommendation and the class was presented for diploma conferral. Board member Karen Pedersen also announced, by board authority, that the class had completed requirements and was certified. The transcript does not record a roll-call or recorded vote tied to those certifications; they were presented as formal ceremonial acts by district leadership.
Attendance and context: The auditorium program listed more than 180 graduates by name during the ceremony and included multiple acknowledgments of staff and district leadership. The event was produced by the district's student media team, according to the program.
(Reporting note: The article reflects statements and counts given at the ceremony. Where the ceremony transcript did not provide additional procedural detail, such as a recorded board vote or statutory citations beyond the institutions named, those items are listed as presented.)
