OTHELLO – Camaraderie and cheer were in the air as the Class of 2025 took the field at Othello High School for their graduation ceremony, a momentous occasion that many expressed they worked hard to reach. Co-valedictorian Natalie Cerrillo had a fitting way to describe the event’s significance.

“We all have one thing in common ... today,” she said.

The events opened with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” playing over the speakers as 328 seniors walked out onto the field. In groups of four, they gradually made their way from behind the stands through center field and to the bleachers set up at the 50-yard line.

Kathryn Acheson, Othello High School’s principal, opened the ceremony with congratulations to the seniors and parents for reaching this point. She first welcomed Cerrillo for her speech and took a photo with her family. After she spoke, Acheson welcomed co-valedictorian Claire Gilbert for her speech and family photo.

They both spoke in similar tones of achievement and pride in what this day meant, the culmination of early mornings, late nights studying, athletics and other extracurriculars.

“I’ve stayed up late so many nights, and I’ve spent a lot of time asking my parents and my friends for advice and help with my assignments when I don’t know how to do them and stuff like that,” Gilbert said.

Elizabeth De Jesus Flores from Desert Oasis High School also spoke and praised her peers, teachers and family for helping her throughout high school. She dedicated her success in high school and graduation to her parents, who were huge motivators for her throughout high school.

Student Body President Riley Rodriguez was up next to speak, but not before being welcomed with cheers and chants from his peers. Rodriguez was emotional throughout his speech, often holding back tears when thanking family and friends for their support during his high school career.

He thanked his teachers for making Othello High School a second home for him and pushing him to be the best version of himself.

“This is such a surreal moment for me, and a huge milestone,” he said. “I’m a first-gen with my family. They’ve done so many things for me; they pushed me so hard, they made me, they took me everywhere, took me to study, took me to everything, gave me everything, gave me everything I could have in life.”

Rodriguez said he did not remember most of his speech because of how emotional he was. After his speech, he was welcomed back to the stage twice more to accept two awards for student activity and service.

From there, the presentation of diplomas began. Students formed two lines and administrators began announcing their names. Most students made their walk brief with a handshake and a quick photo. Other students had more fun with their walk; after receiving their diploma, one student stepped onto the grass and did a celebratory backflip.

Parents flooded the aisles to get good photos of their kids, and many cheers and chants rained throughout the ceremony. Once the names were read through, and students returned to their seats, Acheson led her students into the traditional turning of the tassel.

Congratulations rang out and the Class of 2025 tossed their caps in the air. Students and parents gathered on the field after the ceremony to embrace and take photos.

    Co-valedictorian Natalie Cerrillo is welcomed to the stage to give her speech and take a photo with her family. Cerrillo thanked her peers for the journey they shared throughout their high school careers.
  

    Co-Valedictorian Claire Gilbert gives her speech at Othello’s graduation. Gilbert said she, like many of her peers, had many late nights studying and working on their academics throughout their high school careers.
  

    Desert Oasis’ Elizabeth De Jesus Flores gives her speech to the student body and family in attendance. De Jesus Flores was elected to be a student speaker by her classmates.
  

    Othello student body President Riley Rodriguez receiving his diploma during graduation. Rodriguez was very emotional throughout the ceremony and spoke highly of his classmates.
  

    Benji Garza posing for a photo with his diploma and plaque. Garza received the plaque for perfect attendance in all 13-years of K-12 education.