Musetta Thrower Adult Education Center celebrates Class of 2024–25 as Vacaville Unified verifies completion

Vacaville — Students at the Musetta Thrower Adult Education Center celebrated completion of their programs in a combined 2024–25 graduation ceremony on May 25, where district leaders verified academic requirements and graduates were recognized for diplomas and career certificates.

Board President Nancy Dunn opened the event and introduced members of the Vacaville Unified School District and executive cabinet, then led a tribute and moment of silence honoring Musetta M. Thrower, the namesake of the center. "Your hard work and devotion to our students will never go unnoticed," Dunn said, thanking staff and families for their support.

Student speakers framed the night around perseverance and new beginnings. "Stepping out into the bigger world isn't going to be easy ... but if you put your mind to it, anything is possible," class speaker Jimena Torres said in a bilingual address, urging classmates to keep pushing forward. Graduate Noelia Gomez described earning a high school diploma and a series of career credentials — including phlebotomy, EKG and pharmacy-clerk training — and thanked instructors and family for their support.

Brian Riley, introduced as the center's teacher of the year, told graduates that education is a lifelong choice and that their diplomas are "proof of your courage." He closed his remarks with an exhortation to students to "own it."

A brief celebratory exchange followed Noelia Gomez's remarks when her partner, identified in the ceremony as Abraham, joined her onstage; attendees cheered during the exchange. Earlier in the program, the emcee described a legacy cord passed between alumni as a symbol of continuity.

Superintendent Ed Santa Padre presented the class and formally verified that the adults seated before the assembly had completed the academic requirements set forth by the State of California and the Vacaville Unified School District and were eligible to participate in the ceremony. "As superintendent, I verify that the group ... has completed the academic requirements set forth by the state of California and the Vacaville Unified School District and are eligible to participate in this graduation ceremony," he said.

Program staff and instructors called graduates' names for diploma and certificate presentation across multiple career programs, including clinical medical assistant, phlebotomy, pharmacy clerk and EKG completion certificates. The ceremony featured long-form name calls for several rows of graduates; an exact total count of graduates at the event was not specified in the program.

Dunn closed the ceremony with instructions for the traditional tassel move and an invitation to take photos. "You are officially graduates," she told the assembled students before dismissing the audience.

The Musetta Thrower Adult Education Center is part of the Vacaville Unified School District and provides adult high school diplomas and career training certificates. The district and center did not provide a total graduate count or further enrollment data during the ceremony.