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On what suddenly became one of the warmest days and evenings of the year so far, Prairie City Stadium echoed with cheers, music and the unmistakable spirit of celebration. Graduates from both Folsom High and the Folsom Lake High School program crossed the stage, turning tassels and turning pages, as the community gathered to honor their hard work, resilience and the bright road ahead.
The event featured heartfelt speeches, musical performances and recognition of the students’ academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Principal Howard Cadenhead opened the ceremony by welcoming guests, including members of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education and district leadership.
“Tonight, we recognize the hard work and commitment of all of our graduates who have met the rigorous graduation and curriculum requirements at Folsom High School,” Cadenhead said. “It’s also important we recognize the academic accomplishments of many of our students who have gone above and beyond.”
Cadenhead highlighted the academic achievements of the Class of 2025, noting that 121 students earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher, and 229 students achieved GPAs between 3.5 and 3.9. He also acknowledged students who earned distinctions such as AP Capstone diplomas, California Scholarship Federation honors and recognition in Career and Technical Education pathways, the National Honor Society and the visual and performing arts programs.
The principal paid tribute to the late Vaishnavi Padakanti, a member of the Class of 2025 who passed away two years ago in an accident while on vacation with family. “Vaishnavi remains deeply present in our hearts tonight,” he said. “Her spirit, her kindness and her memory are still part of who we are, and she will always be a member of the Class of 2025.”
The ceremony featured speeches from students that reflected on their high school journey and looked ahead to the future. National Honor Society graduate Paige Anderson delivered a poignant address, emphasizing the unity of the graduating class despite its size of 750 students.
“Whether you found your niche in our award-winning art, music, theater or CTE programs, were an athlete in our widely recognized sports teams, participated in one of our numerous clubs, competed in the various academic competitions, or maybe found your calling outside of school, you all shaped this school into the amazing place it is today,” Anderson said.
Anderson also encouraged her peers to embrace the lessons learned from both successes and failures. “These mistakes are never really failures,” she said. “Without experiencing these lows, we could not enjoy the highs.”
Valedictorian Aubrey Johnson brought humor and reflection to the stage in her speech, which celebrated the quirks of high school life while looking ahead to the opportunities and challenges of adulthood.
“Tonight we say goodbye to those hideous PE uniforms, block days, regular schedule days, Mondays, Tuesdays, state testing days that made us want to gouge our eyes out with cafeteria sporks,” Johnson said, drawing laughter from the audience. “Tonight, we say hello to new chances, new opportunities, new friends, new adventures, and yes, new taxes.”
Johnson concluded with a message of resilience. “The lessons we’ve learned at Folsom High will stay with us forever,” she said. “Class of 2025, we did it.”
Valedictorian Deepankar Tiwari delivered a reflective and inspiring address, urging his classmates to rise to the challenges they will face in life.
“In this divine comedy known as life, it’s not going to be easy,” Tiwari said. “The seas don’t get calmer. You get stronger.”
Tiwari also emphasized the importance of relationships over accolades. “Your trophies and medals, they can be replaced, but no award will ever replace a loved one,” he said. “Hold on to them. And when you need someone to hold on to, they’ll be there for you.”
He closed with a message of hope and adventure. “Bulldogs, this is it. It’s time to sign off and set sail,” Tiwari said. “May the seas and stars guide your path wherever you take your journey. And when we meet again, let’s swap stories about the galaxies that we’ve explored.”
Principal Cadenhead returned to the podium to close the ceremony with a personal reflection on leadership and change. He shared his own journey from being a student who struggled in AP classes to becoming an English teacher and later a school leader.
“My own attempts at leading students, players or adults were always exhausting, often frustrating, and occasionally very satisfying,” Cadenhead said. “And I learned quickly that I had to be the very best version of myself before I could earn the trust of other people.”
Cadenhead also addressed the rapid changes in the world, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, and emphasized the need for strong leadership.
“These shifts in our world are going to accelerate in the next four or five years as you pursue your education or your career. Expect big changes, but what will not change is the need for quality leadership,” he said.
He concluded by celebrating the leadership demonstrated by the Class of 2025 and encouraging students to embrace future opportunities. “Class of 2025, we love you and we will miss you. Congratulations.”
The ceremony included two musical performances by Folsom High School’s jazz choir. The group delivered renditions of “Love Is Just That Way” and “How Sweet It Is,” earning applause from the audience.
Finally, Cadenhead formally certified the graduates, presenting them to the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education for the distribution of diplomas. Senior class presidents Danica Sandy and Sydney Valliner then took the stage to lead the final moments of the ceremony, marking the end of an unforgettable evening for the Class of 2025.
With 680 graduates from Folsom High School and an additional 22 from Folsom Lake High School, the ceremony celebrated not only academic success but also the resilience, growth and leadership of the students. As the graduates stepped into the next chapter of their lives, the evening served as a reminder of their shared journey and the bright futures ahead.
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