Ripon Christian High’s Class of 2023 was praised for being strong in academics, athletics, and fine arts.

A majority of the classmates will be going or have plans of going to a four-year college.

Included are Briley Perez and Maya De Jong.

They were, respectively, valedictorian and salutatorian.

Perez was last year’s Miss Ripon / Miss Almond Blossom Queen. She will be attending UCLA in the fall to study Biology.

De Jong is going to Dordt University. She’ll be joined by several of her classmates at the Iowa college.

De Jong is looking to major in Bio Medicine.

Both she and Perez were well-rounded students during their time at RC.

They both took part in the school choir otherwise known as Knights Sound.

Both were in Drama. De Jong took part in nine stage productions while at RC.

Perez was the founding member of the Multicultural Club and a did one year of cheer.

De Jong took part in sports, playing soccer and tennis while running cross country during all four years.

Both attended RC schools from kindergarten through high school. Perez, who also attended the preschool, was briefly away.

RC graduating class consisted of 60 seniors, who received their diplomas on this day.