2025 High School Graduation

High School Graduation 2025: A Morning Worth Remembering

Sunday morning started early on the lawn at Sacramento Adventist Academy. The stage was set, folding chairs in neat rows, with a breeze drifting through the trees and families gathering with cameras, flowers, and tissues. This was it. High school graduation 2025. Forty-two seniors were about to walk across the stage and into their next chapter.

Some of these students started at SAA in preschool. That’s nearly 15 years of hallway memories, class photos, and chapel services, ending right where it all began, only this time in caps and gowns.

The Ceremony

Principal Matthew Jakobsons opened with a calm, steady welcome. “It’s a good morning,” he said, and it was. He thanked families, staff, and students, and reminded us what this moment represents, not just an ending, but a launching point.

Michelle Piner, VP of Academics, followed with a challenge rooted in Isaiah 41:10. “Don’t be afraid,” she told the seniors. “God is with you. You may not know what’s coming next, but that doesn’t mean you have to be afraid of it.”

Then came the Class President, Connor Blood. He talked about how this class grew up together, how the people sitting behind him were more than classmates. “We are family,” he said. “SAA has given us a place to grow spiritually, academically, and socially. We’ve learned how to be a team, how to be leaders, and how to lean on each other.” It was simple, heartfelt, and exactly what needed to be said.

The Keynote

Commencement speaker Tonja Rasmussen brought a message that hit home. She started by saying, “God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called,” and from there, she walked through what it looks like to say yes to your calling, even when it’s uncomfortable. She shared stories from her own life, moments when she felt unqualified but went anyway. “When God calls you to something,” she said, “he’s also going to meet you there.”

The students were listening. So were the parents. There were more than a few quiet nods in the audience. Her words were personal and practical, and they landed with weight.

A Class That Grew Up Here

What makes Sacramento Adventist Academy unique is how long students stick around. This class had students who came in preschool and stayed through graduation. That’s not just continuity. That’s community. You don’t just know your teachers. You know their stories. You’ve prayed with them, laughed with them, grown up in front of them.

This group helped lead worship, filled the stage during music performances, took on AP courses, mentored younger students, and showed up for each other when it mattered most. Some were athletes. Some were artists. All of them brought something real to the table.

What Comes Next

Some are heading to college in California. Some are leaving the state. Some are taking time to work, to serve, or to figure out what’s next.

Whatever path they take, high school graduation 2025 sent them off with more than a diploma. It gave them a sense of who they are and the confidence to keep growing.

One Last Thing

To the Class of 2025: you made this place better just by being here. You’re ready, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.

To families and friends: thank you for walking this journey with them. And if you’re a prospective parent wondering what this community is really like, start here, and check out Tuition and Fees if you’re thinking long-term.

You can also update your alumni info if you’re one of the 42 and want to stay in the loop.

We’re proud of every one of you!