Benicia High School held its Class of 2025 commencement at the school stadium, where students, families and staff gathered for speeches, awards and the traditional turning of tassels.

Principal Brianna Klein Schmidt opened the ceremony, asked for a moment of silence for classmates and loved ones who have died, and introduced student and district speakers. "Please join me in a moment of silence," Klein Schmidt said, and then introduced senior leaders to lead the program.

Superintendent Damon Wright addressed the graduates, urging them to "live in the moment with as few regrets as possible" and to seek mentors and perspective. Wright noted community infrastructure and civic themes in his remarks, citing the 2023 demolition of a pedestrian bridge on Military West and saying Benicia must "be the one that builds the bridge, not breaks it."

Student leaders and honorees were central to the program. Senior class president Emilio Scott delivered a welcome and recognized staff and retiring teachers. The class presented a senior gift: remaining senior class funds will purchase a victory bell intended as a new campus tradition.

Academic and extracurricular recognitions were announced from the stage. Valedictorian Maya Chakravarti and salutatorian Michelle Hahn delivered commencement addresses describing resilience, gratitude to teachers and plans for college; Chakravarti will attend UCLA and Hahn will attend Princeton University. The program listed multiple award recipients and counts, including 70 seniors earning principal scholar honors (4.0 cumulative GPA), 28 National Honor Society honorees, 19 AP Capstone diplomas, 29 California Biliteracy Seals, and 132 Golden State Seal Merit diplomas.

The ceremony recognized a range of student accomplishments in athletics, arts, career and technical education (CTE) and service. Notable mentions included a Benicia team competing at the KidWind World Championships and band and guard performances that included a trip to the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Hawaii. The George Strolet memorial award and other summit awards were presented; retiring staff member Iona Morgan received the Drollette/Drawlet award as described by student speakers.

After presentations and the read-out of graduates, the program closed with a campus tradition led by students. Band members played as graduates recessed to the gym to collect diplomas and attendees were asked to remain in the stands until the last graduate exited. The ceremony concluded with the turning of tassels and a class photograph.

The ceremony featured district and school leaders including Benicia Unified Board of Trustees president Cece Grubbs and district administrators named from the stage; it emphasized student achievement, community connections and school traditions.