One of the hallmark events of the year in Los Gatos is the Los Gatos High School graduation ceremony, which takes place on the iconic front lawn along Main Street. With preparations beginning weeks prior, and a cleanup that happens in the ensuing days (after Grad Night festivities have wrapped), this moment is a brief—yet victorious—milestore for the graduating seniors, as they embark on their future.
Though this graduation serves just this town, it acts as a reminder to all on what matters in life. Remembering to celebrate the victories of life with friends, family and loved ones was one of the themes.
Like usual, this year’s graduation packed the front lawn. Loud cheers erupted from friend groups all the way in the back. Posters made of students—with faces printed three feet tall—adorned the landscape. Balloons sailed across the crowd, serenaded by horns.
Sahil Agarwal, a classmate who created a website called “usecanvasiq.com,” delivered the welcoming speech. This site enables students to connect to Canvas.com, sync their courses, assignments and deadlines, and see how they rank against one another—emblematic of how some local students have proven their ability to come up with solutions to simplify a world that seems to get more complex by the day.
(Faizi Samadani / Los Gatan)
It was a day to look back on their high school careers, a chance to reap the rewards of hard work—celebrating with parents, receiving monetary gifts, sharing updates on Instagram and saving up their energy for the alcohol-free all-nighter that was just hours away.
Samuel Murphy Radin graced the walkway to receive his diploma in a wheelchair, accompanied by adults so he could stand briefly to receive his award. Multiple classmates also stood in his honor, clapping and cheering.
Sophia Krish, future associated student body (ASB) president, Class for 2026, volunteered at this year’s graduation, along with the rest of the leadership team.
Krish noted Kiana Behnami, this year’s ASB vice president, was tasked with giving the farewell speech.
“Good afternoon, parents, friends, teachers and the amazing class of 2025,” Behnami began, to applause.
She drew a contrast with the early days of Los Gatos High, joking that she asked ChatGPT for help with an opening.
The OpenAI software told her to “delay her realization of graduating,” she said.
This anecdote was met with laughter.
“One thing high school taught me was that the best moments come from integrity,” Behnami said. “I used to think that success was about grades, awards and trophies. And hey, those things still matter, don’t get me wrong. But they’re just a tiny part of a much bigger story.”
Behnami highlighted the significance of high school, saying, “when you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe, or when a teacher pulled you aside to say that they were proud of you” are the sorts of memories students will treasure most.
“We did it!” she cheered.
