The Pahrump Valley High School Class of 2025 officially marked the end of their high school journey with a joyful and heartfelt commencement ceremony on Friday, May 30, 2025. Held on the school’s football field at 7 p.m., the evening brought together families, friends, faculty, and students to honor the accomplishments of this year’s graduates.
Principal Desiree Veloz opened the ceremony by welcoming the crowd before the procession of students made their way to their seats. Student Body President Angelina Valdez and Senior Class President Abigail Alberto Amador served as the emcees for the night, guiding the audience through each portion of the program with poise and energy.
As the sun dipped behind the mountains, the crowd rose to their feet to listen to a moving performance of the National Anthem, beautifully rendered on the violin by senior Abigail Hull.
Academic honors were recognized through speeches by the class’s top scholars. Valedictorian Wolfe Beckley addressed his classmates with a quick message as he joked about not being allowed to ad-lib. Following him, Salutatorian Jesse Araujo offered his own words of encouragement and gratitude to peers, teachers, and family.
The evening’s guest speaker was history teacher Atom Hoffman, a familiar and beloved figure to many in the graduating class. Known for encouraging students to speak in front of their classmates, Hoffman humorously noted that the tables had turned. “Well played, you won. I’m nervous,” he admitted, earning laughter from the audience while offering genuine praise for the students’ growth and readiness for the future.
Next came the conferring of diplomas, with Principal Veloz presenting each graduate with their diploma while Patricia Martin and Roger Ottolino read the names aloud. In a lighthearted and memorable twist, each graduate handed Mrs. Veloz a small rubber duck as they received their diploma—an inside joke and surprise gift from the Class of 2025. With a smile, she acknowledged the playful gesture during her closing remarks, saying, “If you couldn’t tell, I’ve just been ducked by the Class of 2025.”
Reflecting on the event, Mrs. Veloz said, “The 2025 graduation ceremony was a truly beautiful occasion honoring the Class of 2025. Despite capacity challenges, our priority was to celebrate the Class of 2025 with honor and in keeping with our traditions, and that we did.”
She acknowledged the effort required to bring the event together smoothly. “While initially we all had to grapple with the changes and make a path forward, the organization and changes allowed for a safe, managed event,” she said.
Veloz credited the success of the evening to collaboration and support across the district and the community. “Achieving this was made possible by the invaluable support and guidance of the district leadership and the NCSO,” she said. “I’m especially grateful for Captain Harry Means’s expertise and Chief Lewis’s collaboration. We also appreciate the feedback and support from our graduates and their families.”
She also praised the school’s dedicated team of educators and staff. “We were blessed to have the unwavering commitment of our staff to providing a meaningful graduation for our students,” Veloz said. “They dedicated countless hours to preparation and ensuring a well-structured, safe, and special event.”
For Veloz, the night was personal. “Graduation is an incredibly special time. It is the closing of a pivotal chapter for our seniors (284 this year!), while also being a time of hope, opportunities, and new adventures in their lives,” she said. “With each graduate, as they come to the stage, I have little details and/or memories that I’m reminded of in just the short time I was able to know them. Some tonight wanted a hug, a selfie, or a special handshake. Others, just a handshake and a smile. It is a gift to have just a little part, knowing that this is just the beginning.”
Several distinguished guests were also in attendance, including Nye County School District Superintendent Joseph Gent, Assistant Superintendents Laura Weir and Genoveva Lopez-Angelo, and School Board Members Chelsy Fischer, Nathan Gent, Larry Small, and Robert White. Their presence underscored the significance of the occasion and the pride the district holds in its graduating seniors.
With tassels turned and cheers erupting, the students were officially proclaimed graduates. They made their way to the south end zone for a group photo and the traditional tossing of their caps into the air. Soon after, families and friends were invited onto the field to reunite and celebrate with their graduates.
The ceremony was a joyful celebration of achievement, memories, and community—a fitting sendoff for a class that left its mark with both accomplishment and humor.
