Class of 2025: Turn trials into triumphs, ready to lead in a changing world By Jacob Hoffman Express correspondent
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utside the walls of the high school campus, one might see a world beset by tides of change, fear, and uncertainty, a world that almost challenges an observer to hope for, let alone predict, what the future will look like. But if you were to only know the world from what’s inside the halls of Winters High School and Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy, and specifically the graduating Class of 2025, you would find every reason to hope for any future where this class brings with them their tenacity to grow, achieve, and lead. Andrea Hurst has been the advisor for this year’s WHS senior class, and the time she’s spent with these students impressed upon her a strength of character in this class that has brought them through the trials of their high school experience, and now will serve them as they go into their futures. “This class has shown a remarkable blend of resilience, creativity, and compassion,” Hurst expressed. “They’ve proven that they’re not just ready for the next chapter – they’re ready to lead it.” In order to reach this point, though, the Class of 2025 had to face a great number of challenges. As Hurst explained, from the
very beginning the Class of 2025 was faced with a major obstacle in the COVID-19 pandemic. As hard as it is to believe, this class will be the first to have spent their entire high school careers being taught in person in over four years. However, these students still faced virtual classes and months of lost in-person activities and carried the effects of that into high school. “One of the biggest obstacles was the ongoing transition back to full normalcy after years of pandemic-related disruptions,” Hurst said. “While many routines returned, students still had to navigate lingering academic gaps, social-emotional hurdles, and readjustments to in-person expectations. For some, this meant rebuilding study habits, managing anxiety, or re-engaging in extracurriculars after time away,” Hurst said. WHS and Wolfskill CRA Principal Justin Young also acknowledged pandemic-related issues as a persistent obstacle but also noted that students have made a lot of strides to overcome them. “As a school system, we still are feeling the impact of the pandemic,” Young said. “This includes mental health, skill gaps and much more. Our students have shown tremendous resiliency and demonstrat-
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Winters High School seniors receive high-fives from Waggoner Elementary students as they begin their Senior Walk across all Winters school campuses on May 27. ed content knowledge over these four years and we are so proud of them.”
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reg Wade, a teacher at Wolfskill CRA, noted that attendance was also a major issue for the class. “Many students had or have a family problem that impacts attendance. Teachers and counselors worked together to keep wayward students on the right track,” Wade said. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the WHS Class of 2025 was the tragic passing of their classmates Michael Bazan-Jimenez and Noah Lichwa in 2022 when they were freshmen. Counselor Marcella
Congratulations to our Graduates!
Back Row L-R: Leonardo Lopez, Mason Stoops, Sebastian Valadez Front Row L-R: Diana Sanchez, Guadalupe Lopez, Angelina Alvarado
We wish all the graduates a bright and healthy future!
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Principal Justin Young congratulates Pablo Ruiz at the Wolfskill
See CLASS, Page 12 Career Readiness Academy graduation on May 20.