Philomath High’s Class of 2025 turns the tassels

It’s graduation morning and the Class of 2025 awaits for the 11 o’clock hour to march out of the high school’s library and onto Clemens Field to receive their diplomas.

In one area, a couple of students make final adjustments to their caps and gowns. Over in the corner, a couple of friends snap photos of one another with their smartphones. Some students sit quietly as if they’re reflecting on what brought them to this moment. But around the library, there are also a number of small groups joking around with a hint of nervous energy in the air.

Pausch, Hernandez go 1-2 in 3,000 to lead Philomath’s track boys at John Oliver Invite

Seniors Leo Pausch and Lukas Hernandez ran to a 1-2 finish in the 3,000 meters to headline Philomath High School’s performance at the John Oliver Invitational Saturday at Central High School in Independence. Pausch crossed in 9 minutes, 6.96 seconds with Hernandez less than 2 seconds behind at 9:08.49. The pair accounted for the Warriors’…

by Philomath News 16 hours agoApril 19, 2026

“Graduation is a time where it’s kind of like starting kindergarten for the first time but later on in life because you’re starting a new chapter and you don’t know what’s going to happen,” graduating senior Elle Marchesi said. “You’ve just got to hold on and hope for the best.”

Another graduating senior, River Sandstrom, realized the day’s significance.

“It’s a big milestone,” he said. “I mean, we’ve worked our whole lives to get to graduation and so it’s pretty exciting. It’s just opening a door for the next chapter in my life.”

Raul Quiroz Sanchez, who came to Philomath High from Mexico during his junior year, said earning the diploma represents a key moment in life.

“Ever since I arrived in the USA, my classes and all that I needed was in English in a new system with new topics,” he said. “For me, it was more like a competitive accomplishment but I could do it by myself.”

All students face challenges of one sort or another — some that would challenge the best of us and others that might seem minor.

Caleb Russell’s biggest challenge through school primarily revolved around getting through his classes.

“It’s kind of like a job — waking up every morning and going to school even though you don’t want to,” Russell said. “You have to stay disciplined and get it done. School teaches you how life’s going to be so you’ve just got to stay with it and get through it.”

For Marchesi, the big challenge was overcoming a fear of social situations.

“I started high school with a ton of social anxiety and so my first two years, it was really rough,” Marchesi said. “It was hard for me to talk to people, it was hard for me to do presentations, it was hard for me to ask for help.”

But over time, Marchesi said she learned to deal with it and in fact, now she loves public speaking.

Sandstrom emphasized the need for growth and self-discipline as he went through high school.

“Pushing through wrestling season and trying to stay involved with everything,” Sandstrom responded when asked about his biggest challenge. “My family just helped me out with everything and my teammates helped me keep getting good grades and get through everything and have a good relationship with everybody.”

Philomath High’s commencement ceremony lasted nearly 90 minutes in pleasant weather conditions — perhaps a little on the warm side but better than the alternative. Natalee Barton, Brooke McDaniel and Hannah McDaniel opened with the national anthem. Finlay Moore, senior class co-president, and Quiroz Sanchez teamed up for a welcome speech. Associated Student Body co-presidents Raegan McKinney and Colton Hruska, who are among the Class of 2025’s 10 valedictorians, also were on the stage together for a speech.

The valedictorians were recognized and afterward, one of those who received the distinction, JJ Lewis, gave a speech that reflected on working through life’s failures and coming out ahead. Nine students received the Heart of a Warrior recognition, graduate Janice Hellesto gave a final student speech and Principal Mark Henderson delivered the graduation message.

The Class of 2025’s 115 students then received their diplomas.

The ceremony featured a few interesting moments from Quiroz Sanchez holding up a jersey of soccer star Ronaldo to Silas Pittman doing a backflip off the side of the stage in front of the school superintendent. There were also very touching moments, such as Cynthia Zerby bringing a picture of her late husband on stage while presenting a diploma to their daughter, Rachel.

As the word commencement suggests, the ceremony is meant to be a beginning — symbolic of the next chapter in the lives of the graduates.

Sandstrom wants to get into commercial fishing and work his way onto a boat. Russell will go straight to work with plans to begin soon with an electrician. Quiroz Sanchez wants to own his own business. And Marchesi is “hoping something finds me that I enjoy” — which could be health care, welding or something else. She’s thinking about either community college or trade school to figure it out.

They represent just four random stories of those receiving diplomas on Saturday. All of the others have their own high school experiences and can likely share what they would call their biggest challenges. And there are a variety of paths awaiting for those preparing for life beyond PHS.

To end the graduation ceremony, senior co-president Peter Reed led the turning of the tassels and students followed with the tradition of throwing their mortarboards into the air. Friends and family then poured onto Clemens Field for celebratory hugs and to snap photos.

Philomath High School has officially closed another chapter on a senior class.