From left: Seniors Jake Crimmel, Shelby Spence, Jade Stevens, Sophie White, Oakely Robison, Bryson Flavin, Camden Smith, Macee Young, Ava Mueller, Julian Lopez-Olsen, Sydney Feuerstein, Bridget Dawson, Payton Crites, Gwenyth Cervenka, Taiya Carl, Noah Bearss, Mason Barnaby, Evelyn Hachmann, Cora DeWalt, Kai Johnson. Not pictured: Kaden Schell, Nick Jacoves, Catie Morgan, Bartolo Hernandez, Gideon Kimbrel.
From left: Mason Barnaby, Taiya Carl, Payton Crites, Bridget Dawson, Cora DeWalt, Sydney Feuerstein, Kai Johnson, Ava Mueller, and Macee Young were presented with scholarships by Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.
Oakely Robison was recognized with the department award for Woods by Woods teacher Corbin Bennetts.
Student Council advisor Sarah Flowers recognized Payton Crites with the department award for Student Council.
Teacher Matt Reavis gets a hug from Camden Smith, recognized with the Social Studies department award.
Among other honors, Taiya Carl was presented with the Science Department award.
Sydney Feuerstein was recognized with the Metals department award by Metals Teacher Shawnee Perez.
Choir and Drama teacher Tanner Oharah presents the Drama department award cto Kai Johnson.
Julian Lopez-Olsen was recognized with the Business department award, presented by Business teacher Jay Woolmington
Among other honors, Taiya Carl was presented with the Art Department award.
Payton Crites and Noah Bearss were presented with Peak of Success: All Around Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Mason Barnaby and Cora DeWalt were presented with Citizenship Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Evelyn Hachmann and Kai Johnson were recognized with Scholastic Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Ava Mueller was presented with a cord for the Seal of Biliteracy and a stole for National Honor Society among other honors.
Choir and Drama teacher Tanner Oharah presents the Honor Thespian cord for the International Thespian Society to Kai Johnson. Kai was also recognized with the 2025 Drama Department award.
From left: National Honor Society members Macee Young, Ava Mueller, Julian Lopze-Olsen, Sydney Feuerstein, Bridget dawson, Payton Crites, Gwenyth Cervenka, Taiya Carl, Noah Bearss, Mason Barnaby, Evelyn Hachmann, Cora DeWalt and Kai Johnson. Not pictured: Nick Jacoves, Kaden Schell.
From left: Class of 2025 Salutatorians Evelyn Hachmann and CoraDeWalt and valedictorian Kai Johnson.
From left: Seniors Jake Crimmel, Shelby Spence, Jade Stevens, Sophie White, Oakely Robison, Bryson Flavin, Camden Smith, Macee Young, Ava Mueller, Julian Lopez-Olsen, Sydney Feuerstein, Bridget Dawson, Payton Crites, Gwenyth Cervenka, Taiya Carl, Noah Bearss, Mason Barnaby, Evelyn Hachmann, Cora DeWalt, Kai Johnson. Not pictured: Kaden Schell, Nick Jacoves, Catie Morgan, Bartolo Hernandez, Gideon Kimbrel.
From left: Mason Barnaby, Taiya Carl, Payton Crites, Bridget Dawson, Cora DeWalt, Sydney Feuerstein, Kai Johnson, Ava Mueller, and Macee Young were presented with scholarships by Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.
Oakely Robison was recognized with the department award for Woods by Woods teacher Corbin Bennetts.
Student Council advisor Sarah Flowers recognized Payton Crites with the department award for Student Council.
Teacher Matt Reavis gets a hug from Camden Smith, recognized with the Social Studies department award.
Among other honors, Taiya Carl was presented with the Science Department award.
Sydney Feuerstein was recognized with the Metals department award by Metals Teacher Shawnee Perez.
Choir and Drama teacher Tanner Oharah presents the Drama department award cto Kai Johnson.
Julian Lopez-Olsen was recognized with the Business department award, presented by Business teacher Jay Woolmington
Among other honors, Taiya Carl was presented with the Art Department award.
Payton Crites and Noah Bearss were presented with Peak of Success: All Around Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Mason Barnaby and Cora DeWalt were presented with Citizenship Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Evelyn Hachmann and Kai Johnson were recognized with Scholastic Awards as part of the 2025 BVHS Community Awards.
Ava Mueller was presented with a cord for the Seal of Biliteracy and a stole for National Honor Society among other honors.
Choir and Drama teacher Tanner Oharah presents the Honor Thespian cord for the International Thespian Society to Kai Johnson. Kai was also recognized with the 2025 Drama Department award.
From left: National Honor Society members Macee Young, Ava Mueller, Julian Lopze-Olsen, Sydney Feuerstein, Bridget dawson, Payton Crites, Gwenyth Cervenka, Taiya Carl, Noah Bearss, Mason Barnaby, Evelyn Hachmann, Cora DeWalt and Kai Johnson. Not pictured: Nick Jacoves, Kaden Schell.
From left: Class of 2025 Salutatorians Evelyn Hachmann and CoraDeWalt and valedictorian Kai Johnson.
Buena Vista High School celebrated its seniors’ achievements on May 22 with academic and community awards, department recognition and more than $100,000 in scholarships for graduates.
“This is a pretty special senior class,” said counselor and teacher Brad Fritsch. “I know we say that every year, so if we could just focus on me for a moment, the last of the students I had the pleasure of teaching are here tonight.
“It’s really cool to see how far y’all have come since struggling to write a five-paragraph essay,” he said. “This is an incredible class. It’s also an unusually small class of only 43. … About half of this class is graduating with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.”
Fritsch also celebrated students’ contributions to their community.
“This class this year alone has done more to positively influence our school culture than just about any senior class in memory,” he said. “It speaks to their collective commitment to excellence academically and socially and to their willingness and desire to show up and be part of everything this little school has to offer, to help out even when grades and recognition are not a factor.
“I was talking to a couple of teachers last weekend about how amazing it is that such a small senior class can have such a large and positive impact on the whole school, and us teachers and staff see and feel that every day,” he said. “That positive influence on the underclassmen will definitely be missed next year.
“Students,” he said, “be proud of yourselves for being here and the legacy you leave behind. Parents, be proud of yourselves and the young adults that you created. And of course, let’s not forget the teachers who play a part in getting these students here today.”
Kai Johnson was named valedictorian for the class of 2025, and Cora DeWalt and Evelyn Hachmann were named salutatorians.
Principal Liz Barnaby presented the year’s Community Award recipient, who are nominated by teachers and staff.
Scholastic Awards were presented to Kai Johnson and Evelyn Hachmann. Mason Barnaby and Cora DeWalt were recognized with Citizenship Awards. Camden Smith and Bridget Dawson received the School Spirit Awards, and Noah Bearss and Payton Crites received the Peak of Success All-Around Awards.
The seniors also received “free money,” Fritsch said, through nearly $85,000 in scholarships. Scholarships are established and funded by the wider Buena Vista community, local businesses and organizations and individuals.
“The generosity of our local people is pretty amazing,” Fritsch said. “It fills me with joy knowing our community comes together to support our students in this world.”
Athletic Director Scott Crites also took time to recognize those seniors moving on with athletic scholarships.
“Tonight, we honor not just students, not just athletes, but young men and women who have poured their hearts, sweat and time into becoming the very best and who now take that excellence to the next level,” he said.
Seniors Jake Crimmel (Northwestern College, Wrestling), Trey Cardwell (Adams State University, Football) and Taiya Carl (Colorado Mesa University, Track & Field) will all be pursuing athletics at their colleges.
“Each one of them has not only worn our school colors with pride but has represented the very best of what it means to be a student athlete: committed, disciplined and driven by deep love for their sport,” Crites said. “You are more than athletes. You are role models, leaders and pioneers of your own stories. You’ve built legacies here and now you’ll begin writing new ones.”
The staff and faculty at BVHS would like to thank all of our local businesses and organizations who so generously offered and donated scholarships totaling over $100,000 to our graduating Class of 2025. These financial awards provide much support for our students in the next phase of their education, and they provide further proof of the awesome strength and connectedness within our BV community. Congratulations to each of our graduating seniors on a high school career well done, and thank you again to our local contributing businesses and organizations.
Valedictorian
Kai Johnson
Salutatorians
Cora DeWalt, Evelyn Hachmann
National Honor Society
Mason Barnaby, Noah Bearrs, Taiya Carl, Gwenyth Cervenka, Payton Crites, Bridget Dawson, Sydney Feuerstein, Evelyn Hachmann, Nick Jacoves, Kai Johnson, Julian Lopez-Olsen, Ava Mueller, Kaden Schell, Macee Young
National Art Society
Catie Morgan, Taiya Carl, Cora DeWalt, Payton Crites
International Thespian Society, Honor Thespian
Kai Johnson
Seal of Biliteracy
Mason Barnaby, Evelyn Hachmann, Ava Mueller
Community Awards
Scholastic Award: Kai Johnson, Evelyn Hachmann
Citizenship Award: Mason Barnaby, Cora DeWalt
School Spirit Award: Camden Smith, Bridget Dawson
Peak of Success All-Around Award: Noah Bearrs, Payton Crites
Department Awards
Art: Taiya Carl
Business: Julian Lopez-Olsen
Drama: Kai Johnson
English: Cora DeWalt
Math: Evelyn Hachmann
Metals: Sydney Feuerstein
Physical Education: Kai Johnson
Science: Taiya Carl
Social Studies: Camden Smith
Student Council: Payton Crites
Technology: Bryson Flavin
Vocal Music: Gideon Kimbrel
Woods: Oakley Robison
World Language: Bartolo Hernandez
Yearbook: Evelyn Hachmann
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