Chiawana High School presents Class of 2025; superintendent certifies graduates

Chiawana High School held its Class of 2025 commencement, where Pasco School District superintendent Michelle Whitney certified that the students had met the district and state graduation requirements and several student valedictorians delivered speeches urging action, resilience and service.

The ceremony opened with music from the Chiawana Chamber Choir and remarks by Brian Baker, assistant principal. Baker thanked sponsors including 5 Star Guttering, the Pasco Kiwanis Club, Quesistos Landscaping and Pro Painting and introduced student and staff participants. "On behalf of Tijuana High School, I'd like to welcome and thank all of the families, friends, and guests who are here today to celebrate this important milestone," Baker said during his remarks.

The nut graf: The superintendent's formal certification is the central administrative act at the ceremony; students and staff used the event to recognize service members, thank community sponsors, and present a string of student addresses that reflected common themes — uncertainty about next steps, perseverance after setbacks, and encouragement to act rather than wait.

Michelle Whitney, Pasco School District superintendent, told the audience she had confirmed the graduates met the requirements the district and state set. "I confirm the students before you have met all the graduation requirements, standards and policies as set forth by the Pasco school district board of directors and the state of Washington," Whitney said, and presented the class for graduation.

Multiple student speakers delivered valedictory remarks and personal reflections. Randy Alcalde, introduced as one of 13 valedictorians, said he was not "completely confident in my next steps after graduation" and urged classmates to choose action over perfection. Emmanuel Ortega said, "Today is a celebration of all of our accomplishments and also the start of a new journey." Blake Fielding warned about overreliance on artificial intelligence, telling classmates, "Don't fall into convenience of things like AI and put in the effort that makes you, you." Other student speakers — including Marisol Busto Ramirez, Samuel Fingman, Emma Matthews, Taylor Mills, Taryn Rhodes, Ashley Sanda and Rogan Wolf — offered reflections on growth, change and community; many introduced where they plan to attend college (examples include the University of Washington, Washington State University Tri-Cities, the University of Idaho, Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Central Washington University), as stated during the ceremony.

The program also recognized graduates who have chosen to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces; those students were asked to stand if they had received a braided red, white and blue cord. Staff members Chelsea Parias, Claudia Madrigal, Alma Zambrano and Dawn Wright were introduced to read the class roll. At the conclusion of the presentation, graduates were instructed to move their tassels from right to left; the emcee then invited graduates to toss their caps.

The ceremony closed with an invitation from event organizers for families to join graduates on the field for post-ceremony celebrations. "Families, you may now join your graduates on the field," an organizer said, and thanked the audience for attending.

Ending: The commencement combined formal certification of graduation by the Pasco School District with student speeches and community acknowledgments; students, families and staff were invited onto the field after the program for the class's celebrations.