GALT, CA (MPG) - Liberty Ranch High School seniors shared their final memory together when they walked the stage and celebrated under the display of fireworks at the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony on June 4. 

To open the ceremony, senior Sean O’Brien led fellow graduates, faculty and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Senior and Athlete of the Year recipient Paityn Snow followed by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Associated Student Body (ASB) officers Nolan Farrar, Hailey Katen, Alyssa Martin, Libby Portillo and Larissa Vang then approached the podium to welcome everyone and share words of encouragement. 

“Right now marks the beginning of a new phase of our life. Together, we have spent an awful amount of time planning, stressing, studying, dreaming and hoping to walk across this stage,” said ASB Co-president Katen. 

ASB Secretary Portillo talked about how the Class of 2025 contributed to the community by hosting a canned food drive during the holidays to help families in need. Vang, ASB treasurer, reminded graduates of fond memories made at the school rallies and food days. 

“Let’s remember these fun and delicious memories that were a big part of our high school experience. Let’s carry the spirit of our rallies into the next chapter of our lives,” said Vang. 

Next, Assistant Principal Cherise Sims invited exchange students Sofia Fiozzi and Manuella Sophr Dias to the stage to present them with a gift for choosing Liberty Ranch to fulfill their high school experience. 

The Citizenship Award was then presented to senior Anastasia Richardson, one of the top 10 students, who was recognized for exemplifying “the highest ideals of service, integrity and leadership.”

Senior class officers Eliana Enriquez, Minh Huyhn, Jordan Lake, Antonio Nuño and Trevor Schweitz took the stage to look back at highlights from their four years at Liberty Ranch.

Class President Schweitz began by taking graduates back to freshman year. 

“Four years ago, we walked into high school as the first freshman class to return fully in-person after COVID-19 turned our world upside down. … We are not defined by what we missed, but by the way we showed up and kept moving forward,” Schweitz said.

Class Representative Enriquez followed by reflecting on sophomore year, when students began to branch out of their comfort zones, started racing friends to get their driver’s licenses and crammed in late-night assignments.

Minh, class treasurer, brought everyone back to the present day and spoke about looking forward to the future. 

“For years we’ve walked among each other, cheered at the same games, stressed over the same tests and now, we’re stepping into our futures, also together,” Minh said.

Principal Joe Saramago then took a moment to recognize class salutatorian Nolan Farrar, who was among the top 10 students for the Class of 2025. 

English teacher Anngela Schroeder then took the podium and said she was proud to introduce valedictorian James Briggs. 

Schroeder noted that many consider Briggs to be a man of few words, but when he does speak, he is insightful and analytical.

Briggs is also a student athlete, having played for the Liberty Ranch boys’ varsity tennis and soccer teams. 

“James is a wonderful writer who was identified as gifted early on because of his talent. His dream job is to be a screenwriter one day, and he has already been published with the Creative Writing Anthology available on Amazon,” Schroeder said. 

Briggs delivered a speech that reflected on the past few years, where he and fellow graduates all went through their own respective journeys that led them to walking across the stage.

“Despite all having lived through the same four years in time, each of us has lived an entirely different four years of life. Even though we’re looking at the same buildings, the same parking lot, the same sexy hawk painting in the gym, those things bring back different emotions and memories for everyone,” Briggs said. 

“This is why empathy is important, because everyone sees the world in a different way … if we can understand someone else’s experience and see through their eyes, then we can work together and accomplish great things.”  

As the ceremony ended, Saramago gave advice to the Class of 2025: “…Have confidence and believe in yourselves, know that with grit and determination you will succeed in whatever you do. 

“Tonight is one shining moment in the bright future that awaits each one of you.”