UPPER LAKE>>> On Friday June 6, 67 seniors at Upper Lake High School received their diplomas, leaving their legacies and moving on to their next chapter in life.
The Upper Lake High School Performance Band began the ceremony with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” while all of the seniors took their seats. Senior Class President Jacqueline Hope Marks II opened with a land acknowledgement recognizing the local native tribes.
“By offering this land acknowledgment we affirm the indigenous sovereignty that Upper Lake is home to seven federally recognized tribes,” she said. Next to speak was Associated Student Body Executive President Ahmana Jones whose welcoming speech was heartfelt as she shared, “We made it through the highs and lows, the most critical times of growing and becoming young adults.”
The 2025 Upper Lake Valedictorian and Salutatorian were somewhat unique this year as they were identical twins. Valedictorian Nicolas Barnes and Salutatorian Jonathan Barnes shared some of their experiences. Jonathan said, “What I have come to realize is that success isn’t just measured in G.P.A. or trophies, it’s in the way we show up for each other.”
Nicolas Barnes said, “Every person in this class has accomplished something worth celebrating. Some of us found our voices, some of us found our people, and all of us found our way to the stage.” The pair expressed a deep gratitude for the entire campus, fellow students, faculty and staff for making their high school experience as special as it was.
Marie Parlet gave a Senior Speaker speech, sharing her personal struggle through her senior year as her mother battled cancer. She proudly stated, “I know I am not the only one. Students face many personal problems such as trauma, stress, heartbreak, mental health issues, physical illness and family drama. Yet here we are, we did what it took to graduate while dealing with whatever each of us was challenged with.” She added, “Even with different problems you can conquer and succeed.”
Upper Lake Unified District Teacher of the Year Erin Wurm had the honor of awarding the Cougars of the Year, recognizing ULHS seniors who went above and beyond for their classmates throughout the year. Congratulations went to Madison Hale and Ahmana Jones on their achievements.
ULHS Superintendent Dr. Giovanni Annous shared his sentiment for this year’s graduating class. He said “High School graduation isn’t just an end, it’s a powerful beginning. A launchpad into a world brimming with opportunities and know, it is the threshold to your next chapter.” He drove home the importance of taking on challenges and accepting failures in the future exclaiming “Be bold, be kind and be relentless.”
ULHS Principal Dr. Annie Pivniska Petrie presented the graduating class of 2025, handing each and every student their well deserved and hard-earned diploma. She shared “Never give up on people. We live in a world that moves fast where one mistake, one bad day, one failure can make others turn away, but your class has reminded us of something deeper – every person carries a story.” With that the 2025 class song “Vida La Vida” by Coldplay which signified the end of an era as each senior threw their cap in the air.
The Lake County Record Bee would like to congratulate the ULHS class of 2025.
