The Central Valley High School graduated its class of 2026 in an outdoor ceremony held Friday evening which included tears, speeches, songs, laughs and farewells.

A total of 516 graduates marched onto a packed onto a field and filed into seats facing the platform before a crowd of proud parents, siblings, relatives and friends.

All graduating seniors at Central Valley High who achieve a grade point average of 4.0 or higher attain the distinction of being a class salutatorian. They were: Evan Acosta, Natalie Aguaristi, Ryan Alfonso, Alex Alvarez, Elizabeth Alvarez, Makaria Armas, Edrina Ayala, Jaren Bass, Caleb Beckhart, Zhaira Brar, Rebecca Buenrostro, Jenna Butler, Jazmine Casales, Avneet Dhaliwal, Sukhman Dhaliwal, Wendy Diaz Vieyra, Alicia Espinoza, Jeremiah Flores, Adrian Guerra Jacobo, Adria Haynes, Laniyah Hernandez, Japji Hothi, Cole Jacobson, Aaliyah Jauregui, Daniel Leon Echevarria, Carlos Magana Naranjo, Emily Mariani, Ruby Medina, Ivy Mendoza, Nataly Mendoza, Jocelyn Mercado, Jesus Ocampo Bello, Katey Paz-Huerta, Nevaeh Perez, Khaleah Phounsavath, Silas Rodriguez, Jackelynn Sanchez, Agam Sandhu, Harkiran Sandhu, Emily Sandoval, Juan Serafin, Rema Shaofar, Mankirat Singh, Natalie Southavongsa, Alejandra Tejeda Isabella Toledo, Jagvir Toor, Isaias Valdovinos, Daniel Valencia, Dimitris Yousif and Leanna Yu.

Senior Class President Ricardo Roa Barragan welcomed the crowd and gave brief remarks, noting that “One of the hardest parts about growing up is confronting the reality that time moves on, and the moments we cling to the most slip away the fastest.”

“We went from stressing over finding our classes to stressing over our futures,” said Roa. “These past few years have been a collision of confusion, change, and becoming.

“We’ve all felt stressed, overwhelmed, or ready to give up. Some struggled silently, lost friendships, or went through things nobody else knew about. Yet through every uncertain moment, we unfolded into who we were meant to become.

“That’s what makes this moment so meaningful. Not because it was effortless, but because it required us to grow through it.”

He parted with his classmates with this parting thought: “If these past four years have taught us anything, it’s that growth rarely feels comfortable. So hold onto it — not tightly, but fully. Let yourself be present. Make mistakes. Reach for things that feel too big for you. Pursue greatness even when you’re unsure what it looks like. Feeling uncomfortable is not a warning sign – it’s a sign you’re becoming. Don’t shrink yourself to fit into spaces you’ve outgrown. Don’t be afraid of failing forward; the best thing you can do is keep going anyway.”

Gurtejvir Athwal delivered the valedictorian address, saying she was proud of her fellow classmates and graduates. She also admitted the future is “scary.”

“We really don’t know where things will go, what kind of people we will become, or what’s in store for us.

There’s a sort of panic that goes through your mind when thinking about plans, thinking that things might not turn out alright. But this scared and worried emotion is also, to be honest, kind of exciting. We don’t know what’s next, and all we can do is deal with it. This is the definition of courage; to be able to stand your ground and act in spite of your fears.”

The top student in the class of 2026 also said “as long as we can believe in ourselves, and in the future of infinite possibilities ahead of us, we can, and will, make it.”

Ruby Medina delivered the Spanish address which the Courier had translated.

“As a second-generation Mexican-American, one of my priorities is making my loved ones proud of the decisions I make, because they sacrificed many aspects of their lives to give us the opportunities we have today,” said Medina. “Through their hardships, my grandparents and great-grandparents taught me the importance of hard work and resilience. Nothing came easy, but they had a vision for their lives that they knew they could achieve. These lessons have made me the person I am today. They will also help all of us as we begin this new chapter of our lives.”

Medina said her parents pushed her to prepare me for the real world and as a result noted “I have been more than prepared to face any obstacle that comes my way.”

She ended with a Star Wars quote: “The Force will be with you, always.”

The Senior Address by Daniel Valencia also focused on the past looking to the future.

“There’s a strange thing about high school: you spend four years convinced that everything is permanent, and over the past month I’ve realized none of it is.”

Valencia said “we’re not stepping into a completely different life. We’re just stepping into one where the structure is no longer given to us. No more 1 minute music rushing us to class when in-and-out took forever on your order at lunch. No more bells telling us where to go. No more built-in answers to “what’s next?” Which sounds terrifying, until you realize that’s also where the freedom is. Because for the first time, we don’t just follow the system, we’re the ones building what comes next.”

Principal Casey Giovannoni offered his own thoughts on the occasion of graduating seniors out of his school and into the world.

“Soon, this class will move in many different directions, said Giovannoni. “Some will continue their education, some will enter the workforce or military, and others will pursue opportunities still unknown. Though their paths may differ, they leave Central Valley High School connected by shared experiences, friendships, and accomplishments.

“Watching that transformation has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. And to the students gathered before us, I want you to know how proud I am of you — not only for what you have accomplished, but for the people you have become.”

As graduates continue to face challenges, uncertainties, setbacks, and moments when the future feels unclear, the principal said he hopes they all remember “what they have already accomplished: they have already proven they can persevere, they have already demonstrated that they can adapt, they can grow, and they can succeed through difficulty.”

Before the diplomas were handed out he left them with these words: “Believe in your selves. Continue learning. Continue growing. Continue striving to become your very best.”