Class of 2025 leaves its mark in Vanden High School history
In August 2021, the Vanden High School Class of 2025 gathered at George A. Gammon field for freshman orientation.
It was the first time since seventh grade that the class of 428 students returned to an in-person learning environment – a major adjustment, and just one of the many hurdles the class faced on its path to graduation.
Senior class president Tiara Jenna Domingo reflected on the journey with a simple question: “Why us?”
“The world chose us to throw constant adversities, and that’s because the world knows we can handle it,” Jenna Domingo said. “Despite change after change we were hit with, we still got up, dusted off and we thrived.”
On Friday, the Vikings returned to the very same field they walked into four years ago and walked out with diplomas in hand.
“So yes, we’re the class of adversity,” Jenna Domingo said. “But we’re the class that overcame each one.”
The Class of 2025 is Vanden’s 60th graduating class and largest ever. It features the most valedictorians (12), salutatorians (six) and students graduating with honors (155).
“The class of ‘65 was historic because it was the first class, but every Vanden graduating class continues to build on that history,” said Vanden Principal Kristin Shields. “Our students do things better, bigger, with all the extra, and they also do it with more pride and more heart.”
The class accounted for 16 Monticello Empire League championships, 10 section titles and two football state championships. The Academic Decathlon team also brought home three state championships and four regional titles.
“Your history-making achievements are clearly not because of our amazing facilities or abundance of resources,” Shields said. “You are making history because of your Viking spirit, heart, pride and talent, all supported by your families and staff.”
One of the many salutatorians, Natalie Salinas, said she wouldn’t have believed it if someone told her in middle school that she’d be brave enough to give a speech in front of her peers.
“All of us have achieved things here that we would have thought impossible back then,” Salinas said. “We have made our school and community better, made so many good memories, and formed so many friendships over our time in high school.”
“If we can do that much in just four short years, it’s incredible to think what we can do in another four, 10, 20 years in the future,” Salinas continued.
Valedictorian Khoa Tran said that his time at Vanden flew by.
“Knowing that it went by so fast is merely reassurance that our high school years were some of the best times of our lives,” Tran said. “Each year offered something different, new faces, new opportunities to explore, but it was also a reminder that memory can change the shape of a room, so live to experience.”
Senior class speaker Tamia Reid said no matter what happens next, the Class of 2025 will always share the experience of being a Vanden Viking.
“No matter where we go or what we do, there are going to be challenges ahead of us,” Reid said. “So what I’m asking from all of you and from myself is to meet those challenges with our heads held high and our hearts full of compassion.”
“So go forward with open hearts, take chances, and above all, be kind to yourself and to others. The world needs your voice, your energy, and your passion,” Reid continued. “Congratulations Class of ‘25, we did it. And this is just the beginning.”
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