Seniors reflect, receive awards and scholarships at NHS Senior Night

Niwot High School's Class of 2025 was honored in a heartfelt and celebratory Senior Night on Friday, May 23, marking the culmination of four years filled with academic success, community involvement, and personal growth.

Hosted by senior Masters of Ceremony Peyton Rhodes, Mahuiztli (Mo) Martinez, Mila Barinek, Maria Arrece Garcia, and Meleah Perez, the event blended student performances, award presentations, and reflections, highlighting the accomplishments and unique contributions of this graduating class.

The evening opened with an energetic performance by members of the senior dance club, followed by a speech from Spanish teacher Isaac Peña, selected by the class as this year's faculty speaker. Peña's words resonated with the crowd, recognizing the resilience and heart of the Class of 2025. His address was followed by a musical performance of guitar and vocals from senior Archer Buckbee.

Student Body Vice President Arrece Garcia presented the academic achievements of the class, noting that the seniors had collectively earned over 29 million dollars in scholarship offers. She also acknowledged the number of students who had challenged themselves through participation in International Baccalaureate (IB) and Pre-IB courses during their time at Niwot.

Scholarships were a central feature of the evening. Mark Repsher of the Niwot High School Education Foundation presented this year's NHSEF awards, recognizing outstanding academic performance and community engagement. Dave Bonn-Elchoness then presented the Kindness Counts Award on behalf of The Peter Fund to senior Kye Toothaker. The Kindness Counts Award honors a student whose quiet compassion, kindness, and positive impact have made a meaningful difference within the school community.

The Rotary Club of Niwot also recognized several seniors for their accomplishments. Allie Dahlstrom and Sofia Burks each received $1,000 scholarships, and Mila Barinek was honored as Rotary Student of the Year, receiving a $500 scholarship for her contributions to the school and broader community.

Pat Murphy, a dedicated Niwot community member, was recognized for awarding two $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing technical careers by Arrece Garcia. Scholarships were awarded to Katherine Romero, who will attend IBMC College to study esthetics, and Marcos Zapata, who will enroll at Front Range Community College to pursue automotive technology.

The night was punctuated by performances reflecting the artistic side of the class. Senior Sydney Torchalski delivered a dance solo to Laufey's "How Much Longer," while later in the program, Greta Stauch and Jack McGuirk performed a rendition of "Falling Behind," providing a moment of musical reflection on the transition from high school to the next stage of life.

Rhodes, who played basketball for NHS, took time during the evening to reflect on the athletic achievements of the class, emphasizing the role students played in building Niwot's culture of excellence. Over the past four years, members of the Class of 2025 have been at the center of numerous school milestones, including six team runner-up finishes, nine state championships, two national titles, and the first-ever homecoming football game and track meet hosted on Niwot's own field.

Sixty-five individual state titles, 110 All-State selections, and dozens of league and regional championships were also part of the class's legacy. Thirty seniors from this year's class will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level, making it one of the largest signing classes in recent history.

The evening concluded with speeches from student leaders Martinez and Rhodes, a class video compilation, and a final slideshow that looked back on moments throughout the year. In her closing remarks, Rhodes thanked the teachers, mentors, and families who supported the class and spoke to the bond formed over four years of shared experience. She reminded her peers of the challenges they had overcome and encouraged them to carry forward the lessons learned at Niwot into whatever comes next.

"Tonight has been a celebration of our achievements, friendships, and the countless memories we have created," Rhodes said. "Congratulations Class of 2025-we did it."