Nearly 500 graduates mark largest senior class in years as HUSD leaders prepare for retirement transition – Celebrates Large Class in years
HUSD Sultana High School graduation 2025Glen Helen Park, California (Our Hesperia) – The Hesperia Unified School District made history the evening of Tuesday, May 3rd as Sultana High School class of 2025 stepped out to receive their diplomas on Glen Helen Amphitheater stage to accept the largest class in several years of almost 500 graduating. Thousands of family members and community supporters also attended the milestone event that marked the culmination of an impressive record of academic achievement, athletic accomplishments and artistic success for the class.
The graduation took place at the 65,000-seat Glen Helen Amphitheater, a suitable venue for one of the most successful senior classes in Sultana High School’s history, San Bernardino County Schools official said. The outdoor, five-thousand seat amphitheater, situated right at the base of the Cajon Pass and, with views of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, proved to be a perfect setting for our significant event.
Senior Class Sets Records
The just shy of the 500 graduates that make up the Class of 2025 is a key point for Hesperia Unified School District and shows two things — the growth of our community and that students continue to stay with our school through graduation. This large class size reflects the popularity of the full range of educational programs and the community’s continued commitment to scholastic achievement.
All year, the Class of ’25 left their mark in so many things. Academically, the 2025 senior class also was impressive, with 22 students receiving valedictorian honors at their ceremony. These awards honor students who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding academic achievements, leadership skills, and contribution to school and community life.
Music Excellence Band/Performance Art Leadership Excellence
The Sultana High School Black & Teal Brigade marching band & color guard continued its tradition of excellence in the 2024-2025 season, once again recognized as one of California’s outstanding high school musical ensembles. The Brigade has been a finalist at the California State Band Championship Finals for eight years in a row with two Gold Medals, a Silver medal, and a Bronze medal.
Other members of the class of 2025 contributed to this tradition of victory and academic excellence (members of the band commonly graduate in the top 10% of their classes). A significant number of these same students received National Honor Society and California Scholastic Federation nominations; the band program had one of the highest average student organization GPAs in the school year after year.
Many students continued the artistic growth that began in the fall, participating in competitive indoor percussion and winter guard programs this winter and spring, earning significant accolades for the program. These achievements represents the well-roundedness of a Sultana arts education, and the commitment of students with a demanding academic load, and highly challenging artistic training.
Success in the Digital Age Competitive landscape
The newly formed Sultana High School esports team is among those celebrating achievements of the Class of 2025 as part of the district’s groundbreaking gaming program. The school’s college esports teams entered into several competitions during the year, second-semester seniors competed in district-wide tournaments for prize money in games such as Super Smash Bros, Overwatch and various competitive gaming platforms.
The esports program is an example of Hesperia Unified School District’s innovative method of utilizing technology and competitive strategy to engage students, as well as offering a gateway for students who are pursuing careers in game design, computer science and digital media. Upper-class members of the esports program showed the kind of single-minded pursuit of excellence that is a Hallmark of their classmates in old-style athletic and academic endeavors.
End of an Era: Presidential Transition Leadership Change
Sultana High School’s Class of 2025 graduation was especially heartwarming and memorable as it was Superintendent David Olney’s last HUSD graduation ceremony before retiring from his eight years of service to the district. Olney’s 37 years in education, 28 of which are focused in HUSD, will come to an end June 30, 2025.
Superintendent Olney has been instrumental in helping to move forward programs for advanced learning opportunities within the schools, such as helping to bring AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to HUSD in 1997, and working to help lead Hesperia Junior High School to become an AVID National Demonstration School in 2000. As a site administrator, Olney oversaw the opening of two new schools, Cypress and Cedar, while as superintendent he oversaw what district officials describe as an incredibly successful eight-year stint.
This commencement also became the ending of another chapter in the leadership of the district as Dr. George Landon, HUSD Deputy Superintendent, also completed his time with the district. The retirements of this pair of educators sends a message about how it’s all about transition for these graduates and this school district.
Board Leadership Recognition
The commencement ceremonies demonstrated the collective leadership structure of the Hesperia Unified School District, as all board members took part in the awarding of diplomas to the Class of 2025. Board President Eric Swanson, who was first elected districtwide in 2001 and has represented Trustee Area 3 since 2018, led the presentation of diplomas with other board members by his side.
Vice President Mark Dundon, who represents Trustee Area 5, and Clerk Maria Gomez, who represents Trustee Area 1, participated in the graduates’ celebratory recognition. Board members Christian Steen in Trustee Area 2 and Manny Lin also took part in the diploma presentations, showing district leadership’s collective dedication to honoring the achievements of students.
Community Endorsement and Future Leadership
The selection of Dr. Michelle Smith by the school board, as the next superintendent, taking over the reins July 1, 2025, represents continuity in district leadership with the incorporation of new perspectives to HUSD’s educational mission. Dr. Smith’s strong community ties run deep, as she was a student of Joshua Circle Elementary, Juniper Elementary, Hesperia Junior High and Hesperia High School, giving her intimate knowledge of the district’s tradition and values.
Her 31 years with HUSD, moving from teacher to vice principal to principal before coming to district office, is the kind of heroic service that is the best of what public education has to offer. As the first woman and first person to graduate from HHS to look forward to serving in that role, Dr. Smith brings both tradition and forward thinking to the district.
Innovation in Technology and Future Preparedness
The Class of 2025 also graduated at a time of major technology upgrades to the Sultana High School course offerings. The Game Design program at the school, part of the new computer science program the district is implementing is one good example of how the district is looking to get students ready to enter tomorrow’s job force. This program includes game design and college credit options and includes game design basics, programming languages (Python and Ruby), and cybersecurity basics.
Students at these academies have the ability to participate in exclusive competitions including CyberPatriot, National Cyber League, and Mayor’s Cup and unique experiences including field trips to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goldstone facility. These are the programs, designed to turn you into a game developer, software engineer or cybersecurity professional, and mindset to think critically and succeed in any sector.
Celebration of Achievement
For nearly 500 seniors who excelled in the classroom, on the field, in the arts and on the technology side, and throughout their high school careers, Glen Helen Amphitheater was the scene of a memorable finish to that educational journey. The livestream proved to be an amazing way for family members who couldn’t attend in person and those in the community who supported these bright young people in their journey to further their education.
Sultana’s graduation class size is the largest in many years, and the students have distinguished themselves with their outstanding achievements. This is especially meaningful because there have been multiple changes in leadership at the school this year. These students now move on with the knowledge, skills and character to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of people in their communities and to strive for their own dreams.
