Downieville High School Celebrates Class of 2025 Graduates

DOWNIEVILLE — On Saturday, Downieville High School graduated two seniors — Ariann Reese Jackson and Nicolas William Martinelli. In a ceremony at the park next to the town’s historic masonic hall, the graduates reminisced about their pasts and heard advice and encouragement for the future from several speakers. Following tradition, the ceremony began with the symbolic distribution of flowers by the graduates to family members and friends who helped them over the high school finish line.

Principal James Berardi opened by describing the unique experience of attending school in a town as small as Downieville. With so few students in the school and only two in the graduating class, Berardi emphasized that “everyone is seen, known, and expected to show up.” He praised Martinelli for becoming a “thoughtful and grounded young man” with a profound willingness to help, and Jackson for her energy, creativity, determination, and leadership.

Jackson, as Valedictorian, gave a speech marking the end of 13 years and over 15,000 hours of schooling, expressing disbelief that graduation day had arrived. She thanked teachers and staff for tolerating and supporting her through challenges, as well as her family, friends, and boyfriend. While both excited and nervous about the future, Jackson says she feels prepared thanks to their support. She concluded by looking ahead, saying, “Here’s to what’s next. We made it.”

Martinelli gave a short speech as Salutatorian in which he shared the history of the class. They started with five students in fifth grade but, with changes over the years, were whittled down to only himself and Jackson. He expressed gratitude toclassmates, teachers, and the community for shaping his experience, saying he wouldn’t trade it for anything. Martinelli also announced the senior class gift: leftover funds will be used to purchase yearbooks for all Downieville School students in 2026.

Downieville School teacher Faith Edwards then presented Jackson with Life Membership in the California Scholarship Federation. The prestigious award recognizes her for maintaining at least a 3.8 GPA in her last six semesters and completing community service projects with “humility and dignity.”

The guest speaker was Nieceä Freeman, a former Downieville School teacher and now a program director at Feather River College in Quincy. She highlighted Downieville’s unique environment, where students are known and supported, and credited the community—teachers, employers, and organizations—for shaping the graduates. Freeman encouraged the graduates to take small-town values into the world as “ambassadors” for Sierra County. She urged them to stay curious and kind and to never close doors on themselves.

Paul Douville returned with a philosophical speech on “common sense and common decency,” reflecting on history and modern challenges Jackson and Martinelli will face, such as artificial intelligence. He also performed a song he wrote, “Get Up and Run,” encouraging the graduates to pursue their paths actively with common sense and decency.

The two graduates received over fifteen scholarships, including from the Sierra County Employees Association, Sierra Snowbusters, Downieville and Sierra City Fire Department Auxiliaries, Downieville Improvement Group, Sierra-Plumas Teachers Union, E Clampus Vitus (a historical preservation society), Downieville River Inn, Lions Club, and several local families. The amount awarded totaled close to $10,000.

Diplomas were presented to the students by Principal Berardi, accompanied by Superintendent Sean Snider and school board members Patty Hall and Kelly Champion. Berardi thanked the community for their consistent support and expressed excitement for the graduates’ next steps, officially declaring them the “graduating class of Downieville High School 2025.”

After high school, Jackson plans to study child development and infant care, working toward an early childhood education degree at Feather River College. Martinelli intends to study environmental studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.