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Among the perks of going to a smaller school is choosing one’s own walk-up music at graduation.
With a small graduating class of 60, every student matriculating from Anzar High on June 6 received a highlight moment as they walked into the high school’s gymnasium to a song of their choice.
The building was filled with friends and family holding flowers and balloons while cheering their graduates on.
Principal Angela Crawley said she was so proud of her students and told them to cherish the moment, surrounded by classmates and loved ones.
“It’s a really big deal for you to be here,” Crawley said.
One of the student speakers, Daniela Cruz, shared how her perspective on school changed since she was a freshman.
At first, Cruz said, she wasn’t looking forward to high school and thought she’d just have to push through to graduation. That changed when she joined extracurricular activities like ASB where she started to feel like she was making a positive impact.
“When I saw being in high school not as a challenge, but as a chance, a chance to serve, to lead, and to make a difference, everything changed,” Cruz said. “From that moment on, I stopped counting the days and started making the days count.”
Victoria Flores holds all of her bouquets as she leaves graduation. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
The graduating class of 2025 enters their high school gym. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
Valedictorian Sofia Jordan speaks to her fellow graduates. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
Michael Morgott enters the gymnasium on June 6, 2025. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
A look at one graduate’s inspirational cap. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
Younger family members take a look at the graduates’ childhood photos that hung in the gymnasium. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
A view of a handmade grad cap and the crowd at graduation. Photo by Jessica Parga. 
Friends and family greet their graduates after the ceremony. Photo by Jessica Parga.
Several advisors gave speeches, including Emily Scettrini Tinajero, who called out her students by name, giving individual thank yous and words of encouragement to each.
Graduate Michael Morgott became a part of the Anzar Class of 2025 last year as a transfer student. After graduation, he plans to join either Operating Engineers Local 3 or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to work in construction or as an electrician.
“It went by very fast,” Morgott said about his time in high school. “Coming here today knowing that I’m going to graduate and move on to something else and have another experience that I’ll gain from high school and everything, it’s a great opportunity. And I’m glad that I’m here and that I can progress forward with my story.”
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour, United Way, Taylor Farms and the Emma Bowen Foundation.
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