With pride in their hearts and hope in their eyes, the Questa High School graduating class of 2025 crossed the stage on May 17 in front of family, friends, and community members. The class, one of the smallest in school history, with just 19 graduates, celebrated not just academic achievement, but the strength and perseverance that brought them to this milestone.

Guest speaker Johnny James, a respected New Mexico media mogul, delivered an inspiring commencement address. He encouraged the graduates to embrace resilience and remain grounded in their values.

“Just keep going,” James began, a message he wove through a heartfelt speech focused on endurance and self-belief.

“Don’t let the world rush you, and don’t let fear stop you,” he said. “Let your roots in Questa remind you that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s quiet and steady—like the Rio Grande winding its way through desert rock, unchanged by obstacles, persistent in its purpose.”

“When you go out, look home,” he said. “Not just to the place, but to the people who raised you, taught you, cheered for you—even when you couldn’t cheer for yourself. They’re not just proud of the graduates here today; they’re proud of the fight it took to get here.”

The ceremony also honored academic excellence. Alyana León and Alexis Brown were named co-valedictorians, and Aliyah Santistevan was recognized as the class salutatorian.

As the graduates embark on the next chapter of their lives, they do so with the support of a tight-knit community and the determination to shape a bright future—one step, one goal, one dream at a time.

The graduates are: Kiara Arellano, Anahi Camacho Juarez, Kamryn Cardenas, James Garcia, Alianna Gonzalez, Jacqueline Lara, Diego Lovato, Sophia Martinez, Diana Montoya, Carlos Ortega, Ashlynn Rael, Delilah Rael, Savanna Roberts, Zachary Sullivan, Jacob Vallejos and Marlena Vallejos. The students held open an honorary seat for their classmate, Nicky Baca, who passed away earlier this year.