Story by Lilian Zhu
Webmaster
Photos by Sophie Yeung
Photo Editor
358 seniors secured their diplomas during the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 2. The graduating Class of 2021 celebrated the end of an unusual year together on the Roosevelt field.
The ceremony opened with the national anthem, sung by senior Kayla Nielsen followed by senior class president Macie Lukavsky who welcomed the audience before the speeches began.
Senior Jake Carless reflected on his high school career in his speech “Looking Back, Being Here, Moving Forward” and expressed his pride in how his fellow classmates persevered through the year. In her speech “Our Time is Now”, senior Nicole Lu encouraged the senior class to take action to fight social injustices.
“I’m honestly so grateful to be given the opportunity to speak at graduation. I’ve been wanting to do so for a very long time so it was very exciting to actually get that chance,” Lu said. “I wasn’t super nervous because I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wanted to enjoy that moment while I had it.”
After the presentation of diplomas, senior Glenn Cunanan presented the senior class gift: the funding for re-imagined SPHS activities such as dances, assemblies, and spirit days.
Senior class vice president Jenna Okohira gave the farewell speech before seniors officially graduated, moving their tassels to the right and rising for the alma mater for the last time.
Unlike previous years, graduates were only allowed to invite two family members or friends. However, the entire graduation was live streamed and posted on YouTube. After the ceremony, seniors and their family and friends gathered on the baseball field for photos.
Graduates continued the night of celebration with a prom dance at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course.
