Bobcats leave the den: Paradise High graduates 108 seniors
PARADISE — High school can be a whirlwind for all students, but for Paradise High School graduate Quincy Miller, it meant having to start over in three different towns.
“Freshman year, I was in Woodland for high school, but I wasn’t doing too good — but then I moved to Susanville and went to Lassen High School and that completely changed me as a person,” Miller said. “I camped a lot, made a bunch of new friends, fished way more and started hunting. It was great.”
As Miller acclimated, however, he found himself moving once again, this time to Paradise. But he said his newest school was welcoming, and he was able to keep up the hobbies he took on in Susanville.
“I came here and made even more friends,” Miller said. “And I couldn’t be more thankful for everyone that I’ve met in my life and everyone I’ve met during high school.
“I love everybody here. The best thing for me were all the team sports. I did skiing, soccer, cross country and tennis. I feel like I had a lot of personal growth. I grew up a lot here.”
Donning white and green robes, Paradise High School seniors filed into the gym to prepare for their big send-off Thursday evening. In total, 108 graduated during a ceremony in the stadium.
Like Miller, Richard Opava also found himself at Paradise High School as a new kid only in Opava’s case, he traveled half way around the world. Opava came to the school as an exchange student from the Czech Republic.
“It was amazing,” Opava said of his time at Paradise High School. “It was so much fun. There was (culture shock) food-wise, people-wise but it was still fun.”
Co-Principal Kelly Gordon spoke on how the kids began their high school careers on the tail of the COVID-19 pandemic, which played a large role in their academic lives.
“When we asked them what they thought of themselves as a class, resilient was the number one word that came up,” Gordon said. “And they spoke to post-fire and post-COVID. Their resilience has just been phenomenal and while it may have delayed them, it didn’t hold them back for long.”
For co-Principal Christina Voigt, this was a particularly special graduation ceremony as her son was walking.
“A shout out to Ty Voigt who is heading to Chico State to live in the dorms to get as far away from his mother,” Voigt said jokingly.
‘Terrific bunch’
This year, the school had not one but three valedictorians after Olivia Azevedo, Molly Boutelle and Madison Vannucci tied for the honor. Caitrin Cassing secured the title of salutatorian.
“It was nerve-wracking at the beginning, being a freshman,” Cassing said. “But after I met a ton of friends and got steady with my classes, it’s really been a lot of fun, and I’m so glad that I came to Paradise High.”
Cassing plans to attend Chico State to eventually become an elementary school teacher.
Delivering their speech together were co-class presidents Madeline Johnson and Ryleigh Stearns Nixon, who praised the class of 2025 for making it to graduation.
“As we stand here on the edge of something new, let’s remember the lessons we’ve learned, the friendships we’ve forged and the memories we’ve made,” Stearns Nixon said. “The world is waiting and it’s ours for the taking. So go out there, be bold, be brilliant and, most importantly, be yourself.”
“We truly are a resilient group, and I know each and every one of us is going to accomplish amazing things in life,” Johnson added. “It feels like senior sunrise was just yesterday, but getting to plan and experience all of the lasts with you all has been an honor.”
Cameron Mortimer was voted Teacher of the Year by the students and was honored at the ceremony. When the class of 2025 were freshmen, Mortimer was subbing at the school but earned his credential and became an English teacher.
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“I’ve been with them from the beginning,” Mortimer said. “And they sort of got me through this, too. So I kind of see this group as my babies in a way.”
Mortimer said he was proud of his students and looked forward to seeing what they do after graduation.
“They’re a terrific bunch of smart and kind people,” Mortimer said. “I have not seen a group that has so much personality and spunk and is just so fun to be around. They’re just some of my all time favorite people.”
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