It was a night of memories, a time to reflect, a time to thank those that have been instrumental in getting them to this point … and a night of embracing what lies ahead.
The members of the Oakdale High School Class of 2025 gathered in The Corral on Friday evening, May 23 for the school’s 132nd commencement.
They made it uniquely their own, entering the stadium to the cheers and applause of family and friends that filled both the home and visitor sides of the stands, in addition to standing several people deep in some locations around the fencing surrounding the field.
The traditional Pomp and Circumstance was performed by the Oakdale High School Band as the graduates entered and filled the rows of seats on the football field. Grace Constant then took the podium to welcome those in attendance.
Kyra Binstock led the crowd and her fellow classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance, with seniors Jordan Birchall and Tanner Humphrey then teaming up for the Star Spangled Banner. As Birchall sang, Humprey accompanied her on the alto sax.
The Class of 2025 featured several honors for students, all noted in the program and including Kindergarten through 12th grade perfect attendance, State FFA Degree recipients, the Seal of Multilingual Proficiency; Highest Honor graduates, with a 3.75 and above cumulative GPA; High Honor graduates, 3.50 to 3.74; and Honor graduates, 3.25 to 3.49 GPA. Several California Scholarship Federation Life Members were also noted in the program, among this year’s graduates.
Offering the four-year review was Avery Stueve, sharing thoughts on the class as they progressed from that tentative freshman year to tackling challenges and getting through late night study ‘cram’ sessions to get to graduation day. There were several inside jokes that drew knowing chuckles from classmates and Stueve provided some highlights of their scholastic and athletic achievements through the years as well.
She turned the stage over to Salutatorian Tyler Raff, who gave brief remarks, followed by Valedictorian Jaseph Yakligian; both offered thanks to not only parents and other family members but also to teachers, counselors and administrators that helped them achieve their high school goals.
Oakdale High School Principal Mike Moore then officially presented the class; Superintendent of Schools Larry Mendonca accepted and the students lined up on both sides of the field for the presentation of their diplomas, with a team of school district board and cabinet members reading the names and awarding the diplomas.
Once all students had their diplomas in hand, the seniors were asked to move the tassels on their graduation caps and the majority then sent those caps skyward in celebration, as the crowd spilled out of the stands to offer congratulations, hugs and pose for family photos with their high school graduates.
Several of the Mustangs later went on to attend the Sober Grad Night festivities at Sierra View Elementary, providing them with a memorable final night of high school with their classmates.
