Tuesday evening, May 27, 2025, seniors and their families, dressed in suits, gowns and everything in between, walked into the McConnell Auditorium for what would be the last time they gathered as a group before graduation. Senior Awards Night, a “night among the stars,” took place from 6–8 p.m. and is an annual tradition that awards seniors for their hard work and dedication in the last four years.
Senior Awards Night is a ceremony exclusive to the graduating class and their families. With no ticketed entry, anyone can attend, but seniors are the only ones honored. Earlier this month, all seniors were sent out a survey that identifies who is invited to the ceremony based on scholarships already received and other information, while some automatically get invited if they qualify for multilingual seals, the Magna and Summa Cum Laude and more.
As the crowds stepped into the auditorium, they were greeted with the sight of a Buena-blue photo backdrop, with balloons in different shades of blue, silver and white, while props with explanations of where students were heading off to after graduation were available to hold. Silver stars with all of the names of the students who were invited to the event were carefully taped on the doors of the auditorium, which students were encouraged to take home with them after the ceremony. A large “2025” sign, previously seen in other ceremonies throughout the year, was on the stage.
Buena counselor Natasha Hillis, who was co-hosting the event with social studies teacher Andrew Coates, welcomed the packed auditorium as the night kicked off. Among the large number of speeches by faculty members across the district and Ventura, there was only one student speaking: senior Kathryne Asenas. As a member of Buena’s knowledge bowl, drama program and a singer on the Not-So Silent Night album, Asenas has left her pawprint on Buena.
Asenas talked about the difficulties this graduating class has faced throughout their school years: the Thomas Fire in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as other weather disasters. These shared experiences helped unite the class and draw them closer together as they recalled the experiences they’ve gone through.
“I know that a lot of people struggle with being trapped in certain events or parts of their life or have anxiety about the future, so I really wanted to speak to them to hopefully reorient themselves,” Asenas said.
The awards and scholarships that were given out during the night were worth hundreds to thousands of dollars, while plaques, stoles and certificates were also awarded. There were also surprise recipients for 11 of the awards, who found out at the ceremony they won an award.
Graham Strople and Danika Jones, who are Buena’s valedictorian and salutatorian respectively, were honored at the event. Strople will be finishing his senior year with a 4.63 GPA, with Jones coming in close second with a 4.60. The two were separated by only three hundredths of a point, showing how competitive their spots were.
“For a long time, I struggled with school, especially during COVID. Then, coming into high school, I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. But to be here and to be with all my friends, and to be recognized by my teachers and counselors, it just feels very heartwarming,” Jones said.
Finishing off the speciality awards and the evening, the Buena Hall of Fame award, given to two students who have displayed characteristics that go above and beyond the normal expectations for a graduating senior, was announced. The Buena Hall of Fame award is the highest achievement a senior can receive and is voted on by the whole faculty. Once inducted, their senior portrait hangs in the office, next to all of Buena’s past hall of famers dating back to the beginning years of the school. This year’s recipients were seniors Solana Warren and Kimberly Chavarria who have each received multiple awards on the night prior to this one.
“The Hall of Fame meant the most to me, partially because I know that it’s an award chosen by teachers, and my teachers have meant so much to me,” Warren said. “They have been such a support and a guiding light for me for the last four years, so to find out that that kind of appreciation has been reciprocated was really significant.”
Warren has been involved with many activities at Buena in her four years here, from drama, Pawprint, Mock Trial, Knowledge Bowl and more. Warren is the “true embodiment of the bulldog spirit,” according to teacher’s comments read by principal Audrey Asplund.
Chavarria is the ASB president, AVID member and the girl’s varsity soccer captain, winning the Dr. Patrick O. Rooney Memorial Award for her exceptional leadership and sportsmanship on and off the field. Asplund read comments that described her as “the definition of a hall of fame recipient.”
“A lot of work has been put into the four years here at Buena not only by me, but all the people around me,” Chavarria said. “I couldn’t have been able to achieve any of this if it wasn’t for the amazing teachers here and the staff and all my friends and teammates.”
The night ended with all of the present seniors receiving a certificate as a slideshow with their portrait and plans after high school played.
“A lot of us knew this year’s senior class really well and have worked with them for a long time, so it’s bittersweet to see them graduate and I’m excited,” Hillis said.
