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Seniors toss their caps in the air at the 2025 graduation ceremony at Brentwood High School.
BHS Seniors Soar at Class of 2025 Graduation

A sea of green and white filled the Frank A. Mauro Stadium on the morning of June 28 as more than 1,200 seniors walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, officially marking their place in history as the Brentwood Union Free School District’s graduating Class of 2025. With proud families cheering from the stands and the sun peeking through clouds over a field of future leaders, the ceremony honored the resilience, spirit and accomplishments of this remarkable group of students as they turned the page to begin their next chapter.

“Remember where you come from,” said Board of Education President Eileen Felix to the large crowd of students. “Brentwood is more than a place. It’s a community that builds leaders, dreamers and doers. Let your roots ground you and your wings take you far. Know that success doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s not just degrees or job titles. Sometimes success is making a difference in someone’s life.”

Felix also paused to speak directly to all the educators in the crowd: “You didn’t just educate – you empowered. You gave our students the tools to think critically, to speak up and to dream beyond limits. You taught them that knowledge isn’t just power – it’s freedom.”

Superintendent Wanda Ortiz-Rivera refused to begin her commencement address before engaging in a cherished Brentwood tradition: Getting students, families and staff to do the wave. Like an orchestra conductor, Ortiz-Rivera pointed from the stage as students and families flung their hands in the air – a moment of comedic relief before engaging with a powerful and heartfelt message for this moment.

Though people often say that someone is lucky when they are successful, Ortiz-Rivera urged students not to depend on luck. She shared something her mother recently told her: No existe la suerte.

“Luck doesn’t get you across the stage today, you do. Your vision, your determination,” Ortiz-Rivera said. “And it won’t be luck that carries you into college, a career or any dream beyond high school. It will be your drive, your effort and your belief in what is possible. I have no doubts that Brentwood has prepared you to do anything you set your mind to.”

Ortiz-Rivera added: “Picture the life you want and go after it with everything you’ve got.”

Other speakers included Dr. Dashana Dulin, principal of Brentwood High School; Town Councilman Jorge Guadrón; Assemblyman Phil Ramos; Ann Palmer, assistant superintendent for elementary education; Wayne Abenes, coordinator of guidance; Carla Ribeiro, department head of world languages and home language arts; Rhonda Young, assistant superintendent of special services; and Dr. Chief Taylor, former assistant principal. A quartet of valedictorians and salutatorians – Farah Alzafarani, Josue Flores, Marlie Reno and Karina Fuentes – also addressed the graduating class.

As the final name was called and the last diploma awarded, Dr. Dulin stepped forward one last time to address the class. With a nod to tradition, she invited the seniors to rise and move their tassels from right to left – the universal signal that their time as high school students had come to an end. A heartbeat later, the field erupted in cheers as hundreds of caps soared into the sky. Friends embraced, families clapped from the stands, and the Class of 2025 stood together, not just as graduates, but as a part of Brentwood history.

A group of well-dressed individuals, both men and women, are walking on a grassy field surrounded by fencing and trees in the background.
A group of graduates in white robes and colorful sashes stand together, celebrating their accomplishment against a backdrop of a cloudy sky.
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A group of people in traditional white robes and colorful sashes and headpieces are gathered on a grassy field, with a stadium-like structure visible in the background.
A large crowd of people gathered in a stadium, with a scoreboard and stands visible in the background.
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A large group of graduates in white gowns and mortarboards stand together on a grassy field, with some wearing colorful sashes or ribbons.
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A group of smiling graduates in white gowns and caps are gathered outdoors, with a cityscape visible in the background.
A crowd of people, some holding signs and balloons, stand behind a green mesh fence in an outdoor setting with trees and buildings in the background.
The image shows a group of graduates wearing green graduation gowns and caps, standing in front of a crowd and a fenced outdoor area.
A large crowd of graduates in white gowns and caps are gathered in a stadium, with a stage and stadium seating visible in the background.
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A woman in a green shirt stands at a podium, speaking into microphones, with a large yellow balloon-shaped object in the foreground and a tent-like structure in the background.
A large crowd of graduates in green gowns and mortarboards seated in an outdoor setting, with a backdrop of trees and buildings.
A large group of graduates in green caps and gowns gathered on a grassy field, with a crowd of people in the background.
A large group of graduates in green gowns and mortarboards stand on a grassy field, with trees and buildings visible in the background.
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A large group of graduates in white robes and caps are seated together, with a green grassy background.
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A large group of young women in white graduation gowns and caps are seated together, smiling and celebrating their accomplishment, with a crowd of people in the background.
A large crowd of people in graduation gowns and caps seated on a field, with a stadium-like structure visible in the background.
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A person in a black suit is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone, with large inflatable yellow objects in the background.
The image shows three people standing behind a podium with the text %22Bentwood High School%22 on it, surrounded by balloons and decorations in a tent-like structure.
A person in a green cap is standing at a podium, speaking into a microphone, with several other people in the background.
A smiling graduate wearing a white cap and gown stands in the foreground, surrounded by a crowd of people in the background, likely attending a graduation ceremony.
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The image shows a person wearing a white robe and headpiece standing in front of a tent, with other people visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people dressed in white and green robes standing on a stage, with a large %22B%22 logo and other decorations in the background.
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A woman in a white graduation gown and cap stands in the foreground, surrounded by a crowd of people and a tent-covered event space in the background.
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A young graduate in a green graduation gown and cap stands in the foreground, holding a diploma, with a crowd of people and decorations in the background.
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A large group of people in green graduation gowns and caps are seated on a grassy field, with a few individuals standing in the foreground, and a crowd of spectators visible in the background.
The image shows a graduation ceremony taking place outdoors, with a large crowd of graduates in green gowns and caps gathered on a grassy field, with a stage and building visible in the background.
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A group of people, including a man and several women, are standing in front of an American flag and a blue flag, likely at an outdoor event or celebration.
A group of people, including a man and several women, are standing together in front of an American flag and a blue flag, likely at a public event or celebration.