June 14, 2026, marked a historic milestone for Tualatin Valley Academy. For the first time in its 110-year history, it graduated a senior class.
The milestone represented the culmination of years of dreaming, praying and planning as TVA celebrated the first graduating class of its newly expanded senior academy.
The weekend began with Friday night vespers where students and their families listened to a message from Ruth Bradburn, TVA Bible teacher. The graduating class shared memories, collected items to put into a time capsule and had a prayer of blessing from their parents.
Celebrations continued Saturday morning with Baccalaureate at Beaverton Adventist Church. Students led the worship service. The class asked Jeff Bradburn, Beaverton Church assistant pastor, to speak, and all three Beaverton Church pastors prayed a blessing over the graduating seniors.
Class Night on Saturday evening gave family and friends time to get to know each student as individuals. Sara Beck, TVA math teacher, shared about the fruit of the Spirit and how it is portrayed through each graduate. She also reflected on the class history, noting that for some it began 14 years ago at TVA Preschool.
The weekend concluded with Commencement on Sunday morning. Students reflected on their high school years through a class video, presented their class gift — a beach volleyball court beside the soccer field — and heard messages from Christina Orozco-Acosta, TVA principal, and Michael Blackburn, TVA history teacher, who delivered the commencement address.
The class also celebrated the Caring Heart Award and cheered for five students who were awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships by Walla Walla University.
Graduates then received their diplomas before teachers, staff, pastors, board members and conference officials lined the aisle to celebrate the school's first graduating class.
Reflecting on graduation weekend, Orozco-Acosta expressed gratitude for the school’s graduates this year. “These seniors took a courageous step and became the trailblazers and the pioneers in being the first to start a tradition at TVA," she said. "Because they chose to go first, they helped build a foundation for future generations of TVA graduates.”
Additionally, Orozco-Acosta recognized the vital support of the TVA community. “This historic moment could not have been made possible without a group of people, including pastors, board members, parents, the high school teachers and conference leaders, whose support and countless hours of work made this dream a reality," she said. "I am very grateful for the community that came together to make history.”
TVA graduates its first high school senior class.
Jared Acosta, TVA senior, receives his diploma from Christina Orozco-Acosta, his mom and TVA principal.
A TVA graduate is congratulated by teachers, pastors and board members on his way out.
