Diamond Ridge High honors 72 graduates at tenth commencement; students, staff praised

Diamond Ridge High School held its tenth commencement in its auditorium, where 72 seniors were recognized and district officials certified that the class met graduation requirements set by the Utah State Board of Education and the Canyons School District Board of Education.

Principal Amy Boettger opened the ceremony, welcoming families and introducing the Diamond Ridge class of 2025. "Good evening, and thank you all for joining us tonight. I'm Amy Boettger, principal of Diamond Ridge High School, and these are the members of our tenth graduating class, the Diamond Ridge class of 2025," she said, and introduced the school's drum line and stage band.

The program emphasized the school's role as an alternative, school-of-choice option within the Canyons School District and marked a milestone: it was the largest graduating class in Diamond Ridge history. Boettger noted the school began with four students more than a decade ago and has served "more than 1,500 students," and she singled out staff who helped build the program.

Three students delivered commencement addresses. Evelyn Acosta Burciaga told classmates, "Today, we gather to celebrate not the end, but the beginning of a new journey in our life." Tiara Tapua described the school's personal support, recounting help her family received and saying the staff "didn't give up on me even when I gave them every reason to." Yoslyn Valenzuela Avila addressed the community with a written address that began, "Dear Diamond Ridge, no words could describe how absolutely grateful I am to have you accept me into your school."

Superintendent Rick Robbins spoke after the student speakers, praising staff and students for resilience during the pandemic-era years and calling Diamond Ridge graduates "fighters." Robbins accepted Principal Boettger's recommendation that the students be awarded diplomas "by the authority vested in me and the Canyons School District Board of Education," and a board representative confirmed the class had completed the district and state requirements for graduation.

Awards presented during the ceremony included valedictorian Jaslyn Hanson and salutatorian Sam Melentine, along with multiple program and achievement recognitions and a list of Career and Technical Education pathway completers. The graduates moved their tassels from right to left to mark official graduation, and the event closed with District and school acknowledgments and a reminder that the ceremony was produced as a CSD TV broadcast.

Because this was a school commencement rather than a legislative or rulemaking session, no formal votes with tallies were recorded; district officials issued ceremonial certifications that the class satisfied the stated requirements for graduation.