By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
Under a flawless blue sky and a light, cooling breeze, the Sweet Home High School Class of 2025 celebrated their graduation Friday evening, June 6, at Husky Stadium.
The ceremony marked not only the end of their high school years but also the culmination of a uniquely historic chapter in education.
This year’s seniors were the first class to spend all four years of high school in a post-COVID world. Entering as masked freshmen, they emerged as accomplished young adults ready to take their next steps, many with honor cords around their necks and scholarship awards in hand.
A total of 161 students participated in the ceremony out of a graduating class of 168. The senior procession, led by staff members Tia Johnston and Jarid Adams, stepped onto the field to the sound of music and cheers from proud family members. The excitement was palpable.
Honors and Achievements
The Class of 2025 included nine valedictorians: Killan Boggs, Hunter Dalley, Peyton Markell, Ethan Malabago, Ivan Ogden, Easton Perry, Kirten Sautel, Dylan Sharp, and Conner Stevens, each graduating with a 4.0 unweighted GPA. Shiloh Robinson was recognized as the class salutatorian.
Twenty-five students earned honors diplomas, and three graduates are entering military service: Jayden Mancilla (Air National Guard), Jarron Slayter (Marines), and Russell Dickerman (Navy).
In total, the class earned $1,913,880 in scholarships. More than $100,000 of that came from the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation.
“The Alumni Foundation’s mission is simple, yet deeply meaningful: to inspire, support, and uplift graduates of Sweet Home High School by helping them pursue their dreams through higher education,” said teacher Tomas Rosa.
Psychology and nursing topped the list of intended college majors, with Ethan Malabago heading the furthest away. Malabago will be attending Fordham University in New York to study computer science and engineering.
Words of Wisdom
Before the ceremony, Principal Ralph Brown shared heartfelt advice for the students. “Be kind to people,” he said. “Twenty years from now, people won’t remember who scored the last touchdown, but they will remember who was kind to them. Work hard. Make America proud. Do the right things. Do the best you can to make the world a better place.”
Brown also encouraged graduates to carry forward the support they received.
“Remember the people who helped you, your champions. The ones who were there when you needed them and made a difference in your life.”
Assistant Principal Luke Augsburger praised the resilience of the class, saying, “They’ve done a really great job at coming together after adversity. They are high achievers and have taken full advantage of the high school experience.” He added, “Keep challenging yourself and pursuing things that interest you. I hope you remember how much we cared and how much we want you to succeed.”
Although he didn’t speak at the ceremony, Assistant Principal Aaron Huff, who has worked alongside these students since he joined SHHS four years ago, wants them to remember, “This is usually a time when people want to pump the brakes, which is fine, just don’t turn off the car.” He encouraged them to find focus and purpose, noting, “We have a lot of talent and ambition in this group… Pay it forward, because someday it will be your turn to give back.”
Remembering a Classmate
The ceremony included a tribute to classmate Tison Monahan, who passed away in July 2024. His name appeared in the graduation program, and a chair was set aside in his honor. Seventy-five classmates walked with his photo pinned to their gowns.
His family was privately presented with a diploma in his memory.
New Traditions and Performances
This year, graduation honor cords were introduced, with colors representing distinct achievements: gold for top 10%, green for varsity athletics, black for leadership, blue for FFA, brown for Future Natural Resource Leaders, purple for fine arts, and silver for state or national club participation.
The SHHS choir performed two moving selections: “Hold Me, Rock Me” by Brian Tate and “Big Sky” by Seth Houston.
Valedictorian Voices
Ethan Malabago reminded classmates, “Our future isn’t something you just step into. Hate to break it to you, but we’ve still got more work to do.” He quoted Leonard Sweet: “The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create.”
Peyton Markell offered practical advice: “If you don’t think things through, you may be dealing with consequences that can stick with you for a long time… so don’t be dumb.”
Kirsten Sautel spoke to the value of perseverance. “Even when we fall just short of our goals, the journey still holds value,” she said. “We grow stronger, more determined, and more capable of dreaming even bigger.” She closed with, “Just know that arriving at one goal is just the start of another.”
Killan Boggs, reflecting on his difficult personal journey to becoming student body president, said he wanted “to highlight the importance of not giving up.”
“I couldn’t have done this without the amazing people around me,” he told his classmates. His advice? “Don’t chase perfection. Chase growth. The world doesn’t need more perfect people. It needs real ones.”
Dylan Sharp reminded classmates: “It’s important to remember that when moving forward, you will carry your life at Sweet Home with you—and whether or not you wanted it to, it has likely changed you.”
Easton Perry added a message of authenticity: “Don’t be the best that you can be—be the you that you are. You are the only one who will ever see the world the way you see it.”
A Homegrown Keynote
Keynote speaker Jarid Adams, an SHHS alumnus and now a history teacher, offered a message rooted in personal connection and passion.
“These milestones are more than historical facts,” he said. “They are reminders that the human story is always unfolding, and now, it’s your turn to write the next chapter.”
Adams emphasized the power of kindness: “It’s how you build bridges, communities, and create lasting impact.” He also encouraged the graduates to embrace failure. “What set every inventor, artist, leader, and changemaker apart wasn’t perfection; it was persistence. Let failure be your teacher, not your limit.”
He reminded them that life may take unexpected turns. “What feels like a detour might actually be a doorway,” he said. “Your goals may shift, your interests may evolve, and your definition of success may change. That’s not failure, it’s growth.”
On happiness, Adams shared a final reflection: “It was never in the hands of others. It was always about being kinder to yourself and embracing the person you are becoming.”
Looking Ahead
As the sun dipped low behind the trees and caps flew into the air, the Sweet Home Class of 2025 turned their tassels and looked toward the future, not just as graduates but as creators of the next chapter.
Graduation photos by Kristine Banker
Parade photos by Scott Swanson
