On June 4, 2025, the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) class of 2025 took their last steps as high school students at the annual graduation ceremony. This event, held at Ventura College (VC), honored students’ successes and legacies at Foothill Tech, celebrating their achievements in completing high school and ushering them into a future of new possibilities and experiences.
After El Camino High School (El Camino) participated in their ceremony, the Foothill Tech seniors filed into the VC gymnasium, talking amongst themselves, taking photos and reflecting on memories of the past four years. Simultaneously, parents, guardians, family and friends filled the stadium, preparing to cheer on their graduates during the ceremony.
Jack Merritt ‘25, Senior Class Vice President, commented on his feelings during his final moments as a high school student, saying, “I hope this doesn’t sound cliché, but it’s bittersweet … I feel like it didn’t feel real until this exact moment that I [am] graduating. [It] just kind of clicked for me.”
Another graduating senior, Nicholas Velasco ‘25, was “definitely relieved” that he was finally graduating. “The pressure’s off,” he said. His classmate, Daniel Cahue ‘25, said that he’s “feeling great,” and ready to “leave this place.” Both Velasco and Cahue will be going to VC next year and hold aspirations for further education. Cahue plans to transfer to California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and Velasco hopes to attend California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) after studying aerospace engineering for three years at VC.
While students’ emotions were mixed, the year as a whole was geared towards — as Merritt put it — “to make it a memorable year.” He added, “I just hope that’s what we’ve been able to do.” To achieve this goal, the Associated Student Body (ASB) held many senior events during the weeks leading up to graduation, such as the Senior Barbeque, which Merritt described as “a super fun event.”
Melanie “Captain” Lindsey, the ASB advisor, commented on her student’s hard work and dedication for the graduating class, saying, “I don’t think people understand how much of themselves ASB kids give to make sure that this is an amazing experience for the seniors … Without them, it wouldn’t happen.”
Starting at roughly 2:30 p.m., graduates and staff entered into the stadium where chairs and a platform were prepared by the Dragon Honor Court. Here, Principal Courtney Johnson gave her introductory speech. She congratulated the graduating Dragons on their accomplishments, highlighted different honors students and introduced the main student speaker: Hailey Hall ‘25. After the ceremony, Johnson stated, “I truly do get inspired by the students, and I feel lucky that I was able to get to know a good number of this graduating class … I really do feel a sense of pride.”
Hall began her speech by introducing the League of Inspirational Heroes, who were, in Hall’s words, “nominated by a student from the class of 2025 to attend our ceremony today to share in the celebration of the accomplishments they had a hand in.”
She then reflected on the positive memories and future of the class of 2025, stating, “What once was a blank paper is now pages full of memories, people and experiences.” Hall also highlighted the Foothill Tech staff, saying, “No amount of ‘thank you’s could be equivalent to the endless hours, hard work and patience that it took to make the school year as memorable as it was.”
After the speeches, Foothill Tech teachers Richard Geib and Claire Adams were invited to the stage to announce the graduates. After hearing their name, the students were handed their diplomas by Principal Johnson to the cheers of family and friends. After every student received their diploma, VUSD Board President Calvin Peterson invited them to turn their tassels to the left, signifying their graduation from high school. The ceremony concluded with graduates displaying their final celebrations and walking out amidst the scattering of graduation caps and confetti.
As the Dragons trickled off the field, the energy began to wind down — former students met with their families and bid their goodbyes to fellow classmates. Jennifer Gonzales, mother of Nevaeh Rivera ‘25, commented on Foothill Tech’s influence on her daughter, saying that “Foothill has done a great job helping her mature, [be] organized, [be] ready to go into society and to move on to college.” She further explained the importance of this culminating moment of graduation. “[It] feels like a great accomplishment, like I did a good job [and] raised a great young woman,” she expressed.
Similarly, graduate Ariel Montejano ‘25 had family in attendance such as her aunt, Rebecah Kammer. Kammer, reflecting on Ariel’s past four years, said, “I believe that, here at Foothill, she was able to see that she wanted to help the community … That’s going to affect her even in college [and] where she wants to [go].
Finally, teachers who were able to see the growth of these students across the past four years were able to take pride in their journeys into adulthood they had helped foster.
Wayne Powers, who teaches math at all grade levels, said “[We] get them as little ragtag freshmen and sophomores, and now they rounded into these wonderful young adults.” Powers went on to say that he was “proud of them in a way you would be of a family member … I recognize all the sacrifices they had to make and how they’re at this big transition point in their life. It’s just … a wonderful celebration.”
English teacher and future athletics director Jason Dinkler gave his advice and perspectives on high school graduation. “Growth comes from experience and this is a pivotal experience, for sure,” Dinkler said, adding, “Even though for me at 18-years-old I didn’t go, wow, this is a life changing moment, I think it launches you into being an adult in some ways.”
As the Class of 2025 spent their final moments in high school, their time at Foothill Tech came to a close, and their memories, as Hall put it, “Will all [become] stories.” That being said, the impact and narratives they leave behind at Foothill Tech will truly be hard to forget. As a constant reminder of that fact, Assistant Principal Frank Davis reminded every graduate “that through your courageous acts and noble deeds, they will learn to fear the D.”
