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When Max Kelly started attending Mountain View High School, little did he know that he would take 5,568 photos over the next four years, or that it would culminate in a selfie with his classmates at Friday’s graduation ceremony.
“The class of 2025, we made it!” Kelly announced to cheers and applause as thousands gathered at Mountain View High School’s football stadium to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating seniors.
The snapshots chronicle cherished memories of both big and small moments, Kelly said in his commencement speech. But just as conspicuously, they do not capture every experience or connection, particularly some of the most meaningful ones.
“We don’t need photos of all these things because the memories we’ve made in these places with these people have shaped us immeasurably. They’ve made us the individuals we are today, so they’ll always be with us no matter what,” Kelly said.
In total, 565 seniors graduated on Friday, June 6, an occasion that started in bright sunshine and went into the evening as hundreds of seniors crossed the stage to receive their diplomas amid the cheers and clapping of family and friends.
Seniors enter the football stadium for Mountain View High’s graduation. Photo by Adam Pardee. 
Families celebrate at Mountain View High’s graduation. Photo by Adam Pardee. 
Seniors wave to family members. Photo by Adam Pardee. 
The Madrigals perform during the Mountain View High graduation. Photo by Adam Pardee. 
Seniors stand in the bleachers during graduation. Photo by Adam Pardee.
This year, 62% of the graduating class plans on attending a four-year college, although the acceptance rate was much higher, and 27% plan on attending a community college, according to Mountain View High School Principal Kip Glazer.
But not just about individual academic achievements, the ceremony also highlighted the collective triumphs of the graduating class.
Glazer emphasized the connections that the students had forged over the last four years, supporting and inspiring one other to accomplish more. “I would say this class, compared to many other classes, has had lots of great pairs that both complemented and challenged each other to be better and greater,” Glazer said.
Glazer ticked off the many collective successes of the class: from winning coveted awards in theater, debate and athletics, to the efforts of students working together in groups like the Jewish Student Union and Muslim Student Association to help unite the school community.
“You have been challenging one another to think deeper, aim higher and become more than you thought possible,” Glazer said.
The sense of community was notable for other reasons as well. The students entered high school at the tail end of the pandemic, spending a big portion of middle school in an online learning environment with few in-person gatherings.
“It’s surreal,” said Nicole Iwovo, a parent of a daughter in the graduating class. “She was a COVID kid that freshman year. Now there are so many activities and events where she can be with friends.”
The harmony of the class was on full display as two seniors, Anika Raman and Meera Mathew, discarded the usual format of a commencement speech to perform a pop duet, reflecting on high school memories both big and small.
“Let’s not forget that our mistakes are what help us to grow, which is ironic because in the moment we were all just focused on our goals – only looking forward, missing the small moments, and now our time is up,” they sang together.
Check out this year’s list of Mountain View High School graduates and read our interview with Monse Hernández Estévez, one of the graduating seniors.
For all of our graduation coverage, go to our central graduation page.
