Members of Ceres High School’s graduating class of 2025 received their diplomas while walking across a stage in front of family, friends, teachers, administrators and school board members Friday evening at newly-renovated Bulldog Stadium.
Principal Kim McNeill offered advice prior to bidding farewell to 397 students. She shared a few of her hopes for the future of graduates, asking them to stay curious and ask questions.
“It is also important to think critically, ask tough questions, and never stop learning,” McNeill said. “Curiosity is what turns life from an ordinary one into an extraordinary one.”
“When you fail, that only means it is your first attempt in learning. You will make mistakes or have setbacks. But, what is important is how you respond. Like when you were a sophomore and you yelled at Mrs. Baroni when she asked you why you were wandering campus and you learned, she WILL bring you to the office and call your parents. And not only have you matured since then, but now you like coming to the office, like every day. So when mistakes or setbacks come your way…and they will…remember…instead of fearing failure, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.”
She also advised graduates to “laugh often – especially at yourself.”
“Life gets real quickly,” the principal imparted, “but humor can be your superpower. Use it generously. Life will be full of challenges, but finding some humor along the way will definitely make it easier to navigate. For example, when you spent the last three days cutting out cardboard for your homecoming float, only to realize you have less than four hours to have it completely finished. Finding humor in who we are or what we do not only reminds us of our humanness but also lets others know we are resilient. It will not only support us as we learn from our mistakes or failures, but it will ALSO reassure us of our ability to succeed the next time.”
Lastly she asked the class to lead with kindness, saying “it costs nothing and means everything.”
“The way you have treated each other, encouraging each other, sharing wins, offering support, that is what real leadership looks like. And this goes beyond our CHS Leadership class that so many of you were a part of. Leadership is not a title or position, it is an action and a choice.”
Cousins and childhood best friends Alexander Vas Dinis and Mariah Zamora delivered speeches as Ceres High’s valedictorian and salutatorian.
Vas Dinis and Zamora both talked about the past, present and future.
They also focused on giving thanks to their support system.
“I would like to give a special thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout our journey, all of the teachers and staff who have given us the support we needed to succeed,” said Vas Dinis. “Mrs. Alberto, thank you for being one of the first people who told me that I could be the valedictorian. Even though you’ve had hundreds of third grade students, you will always be my only third grade teacher. Educators, this applies to all of you, even though there are thousands of students that come and go, you each leave a unique impact on our lives. Thank you to Mr. Salgado, Mrs. A, and to all of our club advisors, to Mr. Johnson, Conner, Mr. Moore, and all of our coaches, to Mr. Schwarberg, Mr. Yanagi, Ms. Vigil, and to all of the teachers who challenged us academically, and thank you to all of our high school teachers, I truly wish I had enough time to mention you all. Sergio, thank you for giving me my first look into the real world of engineering, and helping further my passion in the career. Thank you to all of those who are mentors to us in our unique interests and careers.
“Thank you to my family, my Mom, Dad, my brothers Elijah and Dominic. I love you guys. Thank you for putting up with all of my crazy hours and busy schedule, for being the reminder that I need to finish my assignment, and for giving me your unending love and prayers. Thank you to all of my tios, tias, and cousins for being the people I could always count on, for always having my back and supporting me in all that I set out to do. All four of my grandparents came to this country with no more than dreams in their pockets and a fierce determination in their hearts. Unfortunately, three of my grandparents have passed, and sadly they cannot be here today to witness these accomplishments, yet I feel their presence and legacy through the peace and love in my family ... I would like to give a special thank you to my only living grandparent, my grandpa Papa.
«I also stand before you today as the proud son of two immigrant parents. My Mom comes from the hills of Michoacan, Mexico, and my Dad from the Portuguese island of Terceira in the Azorian archipelago. Despite their lands being separated by 5,681 nautical miles, they both came to the United States, with their hearts full of hope, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that their children would stand taller than they ever could have imagined. And yes, even though I am a lot taller than both of my parents, I’m pretty sure they pictured me standing tall in a more figurative sense. As I look out to our student body and audience tonight I can’t help but wonder how many of us share a similar story. With being half Portuguese and half Mexican, there were some aspects of my parents’ cultures which I found difficult to navigate when I was younger, one such example was the languages ... Despite all of the cultural differences one deals with coming from a multicultural home, one thing which I always understood was that faith, family and community are at the center of all our decisions. Growing up with a large family is truly the best way that I could have imagined growing up, your biggest fears are not the monsters under the bed. They are rather imagining a moment without having your family to support you. Although at times they may drive you crazy, or have you feeling like personal space was more of a theory than a reality. Having so many people there in your corner at all times has truly been a blessing. It has taught me about community, generosity, and the incredible strength that comes when you feel loved. Beneath all of the chaos and craziness there was always an abundance of love, there is always someone to cheer you on, someone willing to listen, and always, always a full plate of food and a hug waiting for you. Not just from myself to my family but on behalf of all of the students thank you to all of those who are the foundations of our families, our communities, and our support groups.”
“I’m sure many of you can agree that there are people in your lives who also deserve to be celebrated today, those whose sacrifice, devotion, and unwavering support made this moment possible,” Zamora said. “To all our loved ones who are here today, those who celebrate with us from afar, and to those who have parted from this world but continue to inspire and celebrate us from above, thank you for the strength and purpose you’ve given us.
“Now I would like to extend my gratitude to my incredible family, to whom I owe this diploma, this cap and gown, and every stole and cord and medal I wear, because I couldn’t have done it without them. Like many of you, I am fortunate to have grandparents who sacrificed everything to build a better life for their family. You are the hardest-working and selfless people I know. It is because of your bravery and faith, I am able to pursue my dreams. I owe it all to the two most important people in my life, and my biggest supporters: my parents. You’ve guided me through life, showing me what unconditional love, resilience, and hard work truly looks like. You never made me feel that any goal or dream was too big to achieve. Mom and Dad, you are my foundation and source of strength. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have you. Thank you for everything. Love you guys so much.
Lastly, I would like to thank the girls who serve as my biggest inspiration, my sisters. As the oldest child, I have always been told to set an example and be a role model for my younger sisters. But to be honest, if anything, they are the ones I look up to. Giselle, Tati, and Val, thanks for always being the girls I can count on. I’m proud to be your big sister and even prouder to call you my best friends. Love you guys.”
