Hillview Hawks flying to high school

Hillview Middle School promoted 295 students at the school’s Eighth Grade Graduation ceremony on Friday, June 13, 2025. Principal Danielle O’Brien, leading the ceremony, noted that ”This is my third year as principal at Hillview, which means you are my very first graduating class — your Hillview journey began the same year as mine. Over these past three years, together, we’ve worked to build a middle school where everyone feels valued, connected, and inspired…We hope that you value the new people in your orbit, value the new knowledge that you will gain, value the experiences of others and above all, value yourselves. We hope that you connect with your new teachers, connect with new friends, connect with your new community in ways that are positive and that feed your souls. We hope that you are inspired to find your happiness, chase your dreams and share your gifts.”

The student speakers of the evening, Aviva Hornstein, Tahir Damji, and Jack Breckenridge, spoke of a strong connection within this class. Aviva began, “We put value into each other, we feel connected with other people through activities, and we are inspired by our amazing teachers, who have helped us along this journey. In reality, they are more than just three words, they are a cycle of compassion that circulates throughout the school, the Menlo Park community and beyond.”

Tahir thanked his peers, saying “This has been the best place to spend the beginning of our teenage years. Friends — middle school was just the warm-up. Now the real adventure begins. Let’s make high school and our next chapter even better — cheers to more memories, more laughter, and more of all that’s good.”

Jack likened the class to Hillview’s mascot, “Just like a hawk, we’re quick and agile. We get things done and pivot when we need to. During my years here, I’ve seen our service team collect books for the incarcerated. I’ve seen our ASB make Hillview a “No Place for Hate” school. I’ve seen our student body raise money for cancer awareness. The class of 2025 as a whole is stronger together than we are alone. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate what we’ve done, but at the same time, honor what we’ll become.”

Assistant Principal Johnna Becker presented the only one award decided on by the students themselves, the American Legion Award. Eighth graders nominated two students who consistently display six qualities that define character: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service. Annabel Blanford and Shambhvi Sinha were this year’s recipients.

For generations, a special part of the event has been the Sorrels Character Scholarship Award. This award began 37 years ago with a scholarship funded by the Sorrels family in memory of their child, Jeff, who died of cancer as a 7th grader. The award is now supported in their honor by former Hillview counselor Debbie Devoto. The recipient is chosen with an emphasis on perseverance, overcoming obstacles and the giving of oneself to others without any expectation of an external reward. This year the Character Award was presented to Victor Gutierrez. Like all winners of this honor, he will return in four years to inspire the 2029 Hillview class and receive his scholarship.

Superintendent Kristen Gracia concluded the evening by reminding students that even when things around them may feel out of their control, “finding the choice in all that you do can be the difference that unlocks your mind to resilience, possibility, hope, and opportunity. Compassion is a choice. Your Attitude is a choice. Integrity is a choice. Expressing gratitude is a choice. Being open to another’s perspective is a choice. Choosing yourself, putting your needs first, is sometimes a very hard choice- but it is a choice. Going the extra mile to help others is a choice. Asking for help, getting help, is and can be a life saving choice. When you discover the choice in the situation, you will find control which may be the very thing that allows you to move forward, to ask for help, and to accomplish your goals. Congratulations class of 2025!! You bring us joy and make us so very proud.”

After the ceremony, the rising freshman  enjoyed a neon-tropical themed party in the Hillview Gym, sponsored by the volunteers of the Parent Teacher Organization.

Photos by Parke Treadway (c) 2025