PARAMOUNT, CA — In a story that could have been penned for the stage, Buena Vista High School’s Class of 2025 took their final bow on Tuesday evening in a powerful celebration of triumph over adversity, perseverance, and the beauty of second chances.
What began as a picture-perfect outdoor production—complete with a football field backdrop, stage set, and live band—took a dramatic turn mid-afternoon when an uninvited guest made its entrance: the rain. Undeterred, a dedicated crew of unsung heroes—Paramount Unified’s operations team, technicians, and a contracted streaming service—launched into action, transforming the scene from turf to hardwood. The show, as they say, must go on.
And go on it did—with style, spirit, and standing ovations.
Under the newly illuminated lights of the Paramount High School gymnasium, nearly 120 Buena Vista seniors—decked in caps, gowns, and mile-wide grins—processed to the classic strains of Pomp and Circumstance, played live by the Paramount High School band. Family, friends, teachers, and staff filled every seat—and then some. Additional chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the hundreds who gathered to witness this joyful crescendo.
From the very first notes to the last embrace, the evening played out like a triumphant final act.
The audience was treated to a stirring presentation of colors by Paramount’s JROTC and a soul-lifting rendition of the National Anthem by Buena Vista’s own Jaylin Lawson. The spotlight then shifted to three remarkable student speakers—Miah Contreras Fierros, with “The World is Waiting” and Alyssa Sharp with “The Missing Piece” and a speech by Salvador Megallon, “Salvation and Congratulations”—whose words echoed the heartbeat of the graduating class: that every challenge faced was not an ending, but an opening curtain.
But no monologue brought more tears, more cheers, or more truth than the one delivered by retiring Principal Morrie Kosareff. With signature warmth and sincerity, Mr. Kosareff’s farewell message—titled “A Journey”—broke convention. He called students by name, celebrating their grit, their growth, and the incredible resilience each one displayed to reach this stage—both literally and figuratively. His speech was part homage, part benediction, and wholly unforgettable.
Joining him in this final performance were Dean of Students Leslie Leonard and activity director Alicia Megofna, who took a brief intermission from her role as Odyssey STEM Academy Principal to support the production. Superintendent Dr. Joshua Lightle also addressed the audience, offering encouragement and applause for a class that exemplified agency, transformation, and hope.
And when the final names were read and tassels turned, the gym erupted—not in applause, but in thunderous celebration. Hugs, lei wreaths, dollar garlands, and proud tears filled the room. Dreams once delayed were now realized.
This was not just a graduation—it was a grand finale, a celebration of youth who defied the odds and took center stage in their own story.
And for Mr. Kosareff, the curtain may be closing on this chapter, but his legacy will echo in every student who walked across that stage believing in their future.
Bravo, Buena Vista. Bravo.