May 27, 2025

Sophia Kelley, Andrea Gonzalez Ochoa and Eric Gonzalez are the Hughson High School Class of 2025 valedictorians.

The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Husky Stadium. All members of the Class of 2025 will receive their diplomas then.

The three students recently took time to answer some questions about their high school experiences.

Question: What are the key things other students should know about your academic success and how you achieved it?

Kelley: Many of my academic successes were achieved by testing my limits. I have taken on many courses and activities that I knew would be challenging, but I also knew that if I was dedicated to the task that I could get it done. By pushing myself to do more, I was able to get a broader experience of high school life and prepare for the future.

Gonzalez Ochoa: My academic success was obtained through effort and dedication. I showed up and did the work, but I also read the material, took notes, tried to focus on key points, watched videos and asked for help. Above all, however, I think my success lies in dedication. There were many times I just wanted to go to sleep, leave homework unfinished or give up, but I have always worked toward the goal of creating a bright future for myself. My goals and the encouragement of family and teachers helped me stay dedicated and focused on my goals to finally achieve the academic success I have now.

Gonzalez: You do not have to be the smartest to excel academically. A big part of my success was just the discipline to always complete my assignments on time.

Q: How much time outside of regular class did you spend studying or doing homework?

Gonzalez Ochoa: Every year, my homework and schedule varied. On average, however, I spent about one to three hours on homework every day. This was because I made myself finish as much homework as I could during class. Any weekly assignments were worked on little by little and I made a schedule so that I could go to sleep on time. If there was too much to do, I would complete my homework on the weekend.

Gonzalez: This varied from each year and depended on the day. My first two years of high school, I would study or do homework for about one to two hours a day and three to four on Sunday. My junior year, I would say two to four hours a day. My senior year, I would say about one hour a day.

Kelley: Depending on the class, I would do anywhere from half an hour to three hours of homework every day. Each week was different. If it was close to a big test, I would study more, but if I had a drama performance coming up, I would take things slower. In the weeks before my AP tests, I would study purely that subject for about four hours a day.

Q: Which classes and/or teachers at Hughson High had the most influence on you?

Gonzalez: The most influential class and teacher was Mr. Kroll’s AP U.S history.

Kelley: Two classes that greatly influenced me were academic decathlon and AP U.S. history. Both classes were very difficult and regimented with their workload. They taught me the necessity of time management and discipline when it comes to academics. The teacher who had the greatest influence on me was Mr. Thompson. I had the great fortune to be able to work with him for 13 years, ever since kindergarten. He has taught me how to be a compassionate and understanding leader, taking on responsibility while helping others along.

Gonzalez Ochoa: My most influential class was digital photography. My teacher, Jack Bland, is one I will always remember as he introduced me to photography and became a teacher I could trust and talk to. Throughout my sophomore and junior years, photography was a class I always looked forward to. It was the class where I realized I could take a break and enjoy my high school years. Every time I looked through the camera lens, the same school I attended suddenly had beautiful scenery and students that I never took the time to appreciate. Because of Mr. Bland and his photography class, I learned how to take pictures and developed a hobby for photography, but I also learned to appreciate my surroundings and live in the moment.

Q: How many Advanced Placement classes were you able to take? Were you challenged?

Kelley: I was able to take eight Advanced Placement classes. I was challenged academically in learning all the necessary material in AP U.S. history and AP macroeconomics since I had not learned the majority of the material previously in my high school career. In AP macroeconomics and AP physics, I was also challenged since I took them online, which meant that I was learning the material on my own, unable to work with a physical teacher or classmates.

Gonzalez Ochoa: Throughout my four years at Hughson High, I have taken seven Advanced Placement classes. They were not easy, and there was definitely a lot of work to do with significant amounts of homework, but ever since elementary school, I have been placed in honors classes and thus did not struggle. In every one of them, there were things I found difficult, but the teachers were great and I was able to follow and learn a lot from taking them.

Gonzalez: Seven. Yes, it was pretty challenging, especially during late April and early May where I was out of class for the brush-up days for all my tests.

Q: What kind of culture of learning exists in your home? What has that meant for your success in high school?

Gonzalez Ochoa: I am the first generation in my family to attend college and as a result, higher education has always been something my mom has wanted for me. My family has supported me and encouraged me to do many things, but they never set high expectations for me as they simply hoped for me to pass and do well. Despite this, I have always wanted to make them proud and hope to become successful enough to repay them, which has helped me strive to succeed in school.

Gonzalez: My siblings pursued their education after high school, so it was always expected that I do the same. This has meant a lot to my success because it pushed me to always try my best.

Kelley: At my home, we have a guest room where I do all my homework. This means that for the majority of the school year, I have a quiet place where I can get my work done with minimal interruptions. My parents are very understanding about my workload and do their best to help me succeed in my classes. Having this environment at home has given me one less obstacle to work around and made achieving my academic goals much easier.

Q: What should members of the community know about the quality of education at Hughson High?

Gonzalez: It is very high quality, especially the AP classes. The AP teachers are all very helpful and informative.

Kelley: Hughson High School has many amazing teachers who constantly give help and advice to students. I have been blessed by the relationships I have with many of my teachers. The more I know them and they know me, the easier it is to succeed in their classes and balance extracurriculars that often take me away from class periods.

Gonzalez Ochoa: Hughson High School, aside from its many classes and sports, has an amazing learning environment. Throughout my four years at Hughson, I have gotten to know so many people from the community and experienced their unconditional support, encouragement and pride, which has made learning here at Hughson unforgettable.

Q: Outside of class, what kinds of teams, organizations or clubs are you involved in? How important are extracurricular activities in preparing you for college and beyond?

Kelley: I was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, California Scholarship Federation and Bible Club. Along with these, I also participated in soccer, track and field, flag football and cross country. While these extracurriculars may not have covered traditional materials needed for college, they help students find what they are passionate about and meet others who care about the same things. It is a great way to get connected with other people who truly enjoy the subject being discussed and often allow the honing of leadership and teamwork qualities of every student who participates.

Gonzalez Ochoa: I am a member of the Hispanic Youth Leadership Club, California Scholarship Federation, drama and president of the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses. Each organization has given me essential leadership skills and the opportunity to meet and talk with people. In the future, I will be capable of better time management, communication and leadership because of my involvement with these organizations.

Gonzalez: I was a part of the cross country, wrestling and track teams. I was also involved in CSF. They are very important in preparation because of meeting new people and making connections. As well as the time-management aspect as I needed to participate in events and practice while also worrying about school.

Q: What is the right balance for teens busy with school, teams or clubs, and even part-time jobs?

Gonzalez Ochoa: From my experience, the best balance for busy teens would be to simply ensure periods of rest because time cannot be controlled, some schedules cannot be changed, and for most teens, everything is Important. For example, a five-minute break after hours of homework before starting a different assignment, making sure to go to sleep before a certain time and making sure to get a day for oneself whenever possible.

Gonzalez: They should put a great amount of time and effort into these extracurriculars, but they should also manage their time so they have at least a few hours off.

Kelley: Each person has a different balance. Personally, as a way of balancing my harder classes, I always take one that I just purely enjoy. For me this was drama and sound investment. These classes felt like a break from the stress that came with my more difficult academic classes, allowing me to decompress while still at school. I also find that, if possible, it is a good idea to take breaks when at home, do an hour or two of homework, then read a chapter of a good book. By breaking up the harder tasks, it is easier to manage them even if on their own they seem like a lot.

Q: What are your college and career plans?

Gonzalez: I plan to attend UC Davis and obtain my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Kelley: I am planning on going to Liberty University in Virginia. There I will be studying to receive my bachelor’s in computer engineering. During the summers of my college years, I plan to seek out internships to better understand my major and create a network that will be useful when I have completed my college education.

Gonzalez Ochoa: After graduating, I will attend the University of California, Davis and major in biochemistry and

molecular biology. My goal is to complete my general education and then apply to their pharmaceutical

program, where I hope to graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.