There is no stopping these 300 Spartans, half of whom marched through the evening breeze Thursday on Bennie Gatto Field during the first of two hour-long graduation ceremonies at Lathrop High. Part II starts tonight at 6.
Two-hundred ninety seniors, to be exact, make up the school’s 11th graduating class, which isn’t going to let a little wind ruin their special occasion. Not after undergoing constant change, adjustment and (as co-valedictorian Gabriel Calub pointed out) “pure, unfiltered boredom” caused by COVID-19 in the past year-plus.
To them, they’re even more ready for the real world because of it.
“Which other LHS senior class can boast that they went through a pandemic and came out stronger?” asked Senior Class President Chauntel Santillan.
Retired principal Bill Pinol returned to campus on this night to serve as announcer, welcoming guests and ultimately the LHS class of 2021 moments before they took the field to “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the school band and directed by Desiree Bugarin.
Current principal Greg Leland made certain to later give his predecessor a nod, saying “Welcome home, Mr. Pinol.” He also gave a shout-out to yearbook advisor Kristin Miller and her students, as Lathrop is the only school in the district to have its yearbooks printed and distributed before the last day of school.
Leland spoke about what was learned and re-learned during the pandemic, from video conferencing to Door Dash and bike riding before addressing the “very special” Class of 2021.
“You have set the bar even higher than previous graduates,” Leland said. “Our future Spartans will look to you as role models, especially as you have responded to the many hardships of this past year with resilience, strength and grace. You are truly Spartans.”
Following the presentation of colors, JROTC cadet Aaliyah Fernandez led the Pledge of Allegiance and the LHS band played the National Anthem.
ASB presidents Freshta Gozari, David Hernandez and Joey Sanchis opened with brief welcome speeches and introduced Leland. Santillan followed, expressing gratitude to the teachers and administrators and encouraging her classmates to “dream in black and gold.”
California Scholarship Federation club advisor Boni Hamilton acknowledged Gold Seal Bearers Rafael Castellanos and Emma Johnson. Sydney DeAnda recognized Honor Cord recipients in various departments as well as California Seal of Biliteracy awardees.
Assistant Principal Martha Dent introduced salutatorian Navni Saini and co-valedictorians Christa Velasco and Calub.
Saini graduates with a 4.25 GPA and will attend San Joaquin Delta College to pursue a degree in Nursing. She recalls childhood moments as a new Lathrop resident, attempting to reach for the stars while “jumping up and down the muddy grass in my new backyard.” Saini motivated her fellow seniors to do the same.
“Before you leave this field tonight, I want you to know, always reach for the stars, Spartans,” she said. “I know better than anyone that they seem so far away. … but don’t let that stop you. Try to grasp onto that one star, past all the surrounding darkness to get to the light. Thank you, and I wish for you to continue to shine bright.”
UC Davis-bound Velasco took the humorous approach, introducing herself as ‘the other Filipino valedictorian” and ending with, “My best friend Ashley said that her mom would making tacos after this, so let’s keep this ceremony moving.” She’ll study Biological Sciences.
Although she reached her goal as valedictorian, Velasco said she feels “cheated,” since she is now graduating just as she was beginning to truly enjoy other aspects of student life on campus.
Velasco and Calub go out with 4.28 GPAs. Calub is on his way to USC where he’ll study Aerospace Engineering.
In his deep dive into boredom, Calub brought up the summer nights spent in his backyard “peering at Mars, which is over there, by the way,” he said while pointing toward a spot in the sky above the home-side bleachers.
Calub pleaded with attendees to not forget their moments of self-reflection during the pandemic as they creep out of the “dark tunnel” and move “from the black toward the gold.”
In closing, he quoted Master Oogway from the movie ‘Kung Fu Panda’:
“Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.’”
MUSD School Board members Marie Freitas, Marisella Guerrero and Kathy Howe presented the graduating class. Kristen Gleason and DeAnda announced graduates, while Linda Dodge and Lisa Wilson awarded diplomas.
