Up, Up, & Away

As the school year glides to a close and students begin landing at summer break, the class of 2025 finds themselves at the crossroads of adolescence and adulthood. Senior week, along with the rest of the fourth quarter, fills seniors with a sense of nostalgia as this chapter begins to close, but also a sense of accomplishment for steering the longest challenge of their lives thus far. Seniors, hopeful for the future, maneuver paths following high school, most gravitating towards one of two routes: university and the military.
Staying local at schools such as UNR, UNLV, and CSN is the most popular option, with the latter two providing locals with scholarship opportunities. Seniors aim to take advantage of the Millennium Scholarship and, most notably, the Nevada Promise Scholarship, which covers up to three years of tuition at the College of Southern Nevada. Josch Viray, a senior here at Sierra Vista, notes that the Nevada Promise Scholarship makes obtaining a college education more accessible and a solid financial option. Furthermore, Abraham-Daniel Rivera claimed the Millennium Scholarship for UNLV, emphasizing, “The Millennium Scholarship helps me get a step closer to pursuing my career.”
While most students lean to further their education in college, others opt to enlist in the military branches, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, offering not only a chance to serve the country but also long-term services they provide, such as benefits for healthcare, college tuition, and even the foundation for generational wealth. For some seniors, the military ensures a clear path to stability and a reliable option to secure their future. Victor Fulcher, a senior joining the Marine Corps, affirms, “The military is a good way to take advantage of time for those still figuring out what they want to do.” Although not the traditional route, that does not snub any senior’s courage to rise to the challenge. Additionally, seniors such as Angelo Hernandez expressed their desire to “Return to school,” following their military service.
Each scholar of the class of 2025 prepares to take flight into a future that is both unknown and full of possibility. Whether heading to a college classroom, a military base, or another route, seniors embrace their next chapter in style as they soar into new skies.