EL MONTE – More than 1,850 graduates took center stage in celebrations that featured vibrant tributes, powerful performances, stirring speeches, and fireworks as the El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) honored its Class of 2025 with a series of commencements on May 28 and June 5.

Graduates from across the District are bound for leading universities, including Yale, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, USC, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UCLA. Others plan to attend community college, enroll in trade programs, join the armed forces, or begin their careers.

The EMUHSD Class of 2025 also earned prestigious honors for their excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and leadership, including the State Seal of Biliteracy, California Scholarship Federation Gold Seal, QuestBridge National College Match, and Edison scholarships. El Monte Union also bid farewell to South El Monte High School’s Andrea Pablo as she concluded her term as Student Board Member, where she served as a strong representative and champion for her peers.

“This remarkable class of graduates has shown exceptional perseverance, resilience, and heart,” said EMUHSD Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga. “They met every challenge with strength and purpose, and their determination has inspired our entire community. As they move forward, the El Monte Union family proudly supports and cheers them on every step of the way.”

El Monte-Rosemead Adult School kicked off graduation season in EMUHSD on May 28, where many adult learners earned diplomas as their families and supporters cheered them on. The celebration continued on June 5 with the Granada Adult Transition Center’s cheerful Aloha-themed ceremony, followed by a commencement at Fernando R. Ledesma High School. That evening, South El Monte, Rosemead, El Monte, Mountain View, and Arroyo high schools held graduations that highlighted the unique spirit and accomplishments of their graduating seniors. El Monte High School’s Class of 2025 became the first graduates to walk across the stage at the school’s newly modernized athletics complex, a milestone in the school’s history.

This year’s ceremonies featured speeches by valedictorians and salutatorians, tributes to late community members, and presentations of flags representing the cultures and heritages in each graduating class. Choir and band performances added to the celebrations, with graduates joining the groups for a memorable final performance.

“We entered this District as unsure freshmen, faced challenges we never expected, and now stand ready in our caps and gowns to take on the world,” Arroyo High School Class of 2025 president and graduate Eduardo Morales said. “Thanks to our parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, and supporting peers, we’ve grown stronger and created memories that will guide us forward.”

Families, friends, and community members filled each school’s campus and stadiums, capturing moments with photos and videos as students crossed the stage wearing decorated caps and colorful stoles. Each ceremony ended with the school alma mater, emotional farewells, and a fireworks display.

“There is immense joy and pride in this moment,” Board of Trustees President Florencio Briones said. “Our graduates are not just students; they’re champions who turned obstacles into stepping stones. You’ve proven that even in uncertainty, there is possibility. I am confident I stand before the leaders of tomorrow.”

To view each school’s graduation ceremony, visit the El Monte Union High School District website.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EMUHSD_ GRADUATION_1: A Mountain View High School graduate raises her diploma with a big smile as she crosses the stage during the school’s commencement ceremony on June 5.

EMUHSD_GRADUATION_2: A Fernando R. Ledesma High School graduate smiles and displays her cultural graduation shawl while crossing the stage to receive her diploma during the June 5 commencement.

EMUHSD_GRADUATION_3: A Rosemead High School graduate cheers after receiving his diploma during the June 5 commencement.

EMUHSD_GRADUATION_4: El Monte High School graduates celebrate the end of their high school journey beneath a grand fireworks finale during the June 5 commencement.

EMUHSD_GRADUATION_5: South El Monte High School graduates embrace after shifting their tassels from right to left, marking the end of their high school journey during the June 5 ceremony.

EMUHSD_GRADUATION_6: An Arroyo High School graduate celebrates with his parents after receiving his diploma after the June 5 commencement.