Weston Ranch High held its 16th annual commencement exercises last week.

The two-day event held in the stadium was a return to near normalcy – COVID-19 safety protocols including social distancing were enforced – as half of the 235 received their diplomas on either last Thursday or Friday.

Still, it was a far cry from last year’s drive-thru graduation.

Members of the Class of 2021 filed into the stadium with the playing of Pomp & Circumstances as performed by the WRHS Band. They were led by valedictorian and future Ivy Leaguer Sumreet Kaur Sandhu – she’ll be attending Dartmouth College in the fall – and salutatorian Parnit Kaur Cheema.

Classmate Gabrielle Zion Villareal Valera had the honors of performing the National Anthem while Associate Student BodyTreasurer Chris Omar Lopez Henriquez and class President Jose Ricardo Sanchez shared in leading those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Principal Troy Fast welcomed families and guests along with dignitaries such as Manteca Unified Superintendent Clark Burke and school board President Eric Duncan.

Student speakers were Sandhu, Cheema and ASB President Alexandra Arevalo-Mercado.

Teachers Stayce Baptista and Kevin Allred announced the lifetime members of the California Scholarship Federation. Included were Faizah Muhamod Muthana, Khaina Acub Alupay, Cheema and Sandhu.

Fast provided the presentation and certification of the class, with Duncan obliging with the acceptance of the class to receive their diplomas.

In addition, the newest group of graduates shared their motto: “Each of us has different talents, different dreams, and different donations, but we all have the same power to make a new tomorrow.”