Lone Peak graduates Class of 2025; school honors retiring teachers and remembers a classmate

Lone Peak High School held commencement exercises for the Class of 2025, where student speakers urged kindness and perseverance, the school presented honorary diplomas to two retiring educators and Principal Todd Dawson led a remembrance for a classmate who died during the school year.

The ceremony, attended by representatives of the Alpine School District including Board representative Sarah Beeson and district administrators, combined student speeches, musical performances and formal recognition of long-serving staff, closing the school year for graduates and their families.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet, is fighting a battle you know nothing about," said Easton Fillmore, student body president, summing up a repeated theme of compassion that ran through student remarks. Salutatorian Aaron Ochakoski and valedictorian John Taylor also addressed classmates; Taylor told graduates, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life," urging them to follow their own convictions.

Principal Todd Dawson acknowledged the year's losses and asked the audience to remember a member of the class who was not present. "We missed Justice here today, and we extend our hearts and our love to his family and friends," Dawson said, referring to classmate Justice Ashcraft.

The school also used the ceremony to honor two longtime staff members. School presenters awarded honorary diplomas to Brad Mullen, who the speaker said taught for 34 years and coached for 38, and to Debbie Wallin, who was described as retiring after 30 years of service and noted as a parent and grandparent in the remarks. "Today we would like to award you this honorary diploma not just as a symbol of your service but a thank you from the generations you've lifted along the way," the presenter said.

Musical performances by the Lone Peak Orchestra and choir punctuated the program, and students followed ceremony tradition by moving tassels and receiving their diplomas as names were read by student council officers. Board representative Sarah Beeson certified the cohort as graduating members of the Lone Peak High School Class of 2025.

The ceremony concluded with the school fight song and a recessional; graduates were directed to exit through the East and West tunnels and meet families on the north side of the Marriott Center.