- December 5, 2025
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Assistant principal Dhand Presley got a little help from the audience as they sang "Sweet Caroline" and waved their cell phone lights. Photo by Michele Meyers
Valedictorian Ria Gupta (right) and salutatorian Kyle Stewart (second from right) prepared to lead the Seabreeze graduates into the auditorium at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mr. Seabreeze Michael Hayes and Miss Seabreeze Marin Houck carried the graduate banner at the commencement for the Class of 2022 at the Ocean Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Several Seabreeze graduates committed to the armed services with two missing the commencement exercises because they were already serving. Photo by Michele Meyers
A Seabreeze graduate looked for her family and friends in the crowd at the Ocean Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Valedictorian Ria Gupta addressed her classmates regarding the three essentials that the Seabreeze community taught them: support, adapt, balance. Photo by Michele Meyers
A Seabreeze graduate in the midst of a sea of Sandcrabs during the commencement speeches. Photo by Michele Meyers
President Earl Johnson addressed his Seabreeze graduates at the Ocean Center during the commencement exercises. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
School board member and Seabreeze alumnus Carl Persis congratulated Andrew Randolph at the Ocean Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze principal Earl Johnson congratulated one of his track athletes at the commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Principal Earl Johnson posed with one of his exuberant graduates at Seabreeze's commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Principal Earl Johnson congratulated one of his graduates at Seabreeze's commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze principal Earl Johnson posed with graduate Yanni Queiroga at the Ocean Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Principal Earl Johnson congratulated one of his graduates at Seabreeze's commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tashod Troutman was all smiles after he received his diploma at the Seabreeze High School commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze graduate points toward family and friends after receiving his diploma. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dante Jones beamed as he got his photo taken at Seabreeze's commencement. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School held their commencement at the Ocean Center for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze student presenters applaud the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze High School graduates cheered before they turn their tassels at the commencement for the Class of 2022. Photo by Michele Meyers
“Sweet Caroline” played throughout the Ocean Center while family and friends of the Seabreeze High School graduating class of 2022 sang the lyrics and waved their cell phone lights on Friday, May 27.
Seabreeze principal Earl Johnson said good morning to the “Sandcrab nation” as he presented the graduates to the crowd. Student Council co-president Brody Ochipa led the Pledge of Allegiance and was followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung by Lila Massabeau. People in the stands took over the song when the microphone cut out midway through her performance.
Valedictorian Ria Gupta will be attending the University of Central Florida and majoring in biochemistry. She spoke to her fellow graduates about the three essentials the Seabreeze community had taught them—support each other, adapt and keep it balanced. She parted with a quote from the writer and composer Anthony Burgess:
“It’s always good to remember where you come from and celebrate it. To remember where you come from is part of where you’re going.”
Johnson commended the graduating class members for their resilience, perseverance, determination and fortitude, which had helped them overcome the pandemic’s obstacles. Three hundred and forty-six graduates received their diplomas, with 45 as members of the National Honor Society, 17 with an AVID designation and 55 Cambridge AICE candidates. According to Johnson, 48% of the seniors graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude. They have accumulated over 28,249 community service hours and have attained over $5.6 million dollars in scholarships. Eleven students have already earned associate degrees from Daytona State College.
Johnson has been Seabreeze’s principal for one year but exclaimed it had been the best year out of his 33-year career.
“You are not the passive victim of circumstance, you are the action hero of your own journey,” he said.
