As the soon-to-be graduates of the San Benito High School class
of 2010 gathered in the gymnasium before the graduation ceremony
June 4, the students were filled with excitement, enthusiasm and a
little bit of nervousness.
Look for a special graduation section in the Free Lance on
Tuesday.
”
We did it. I’m super excited and happy,
”
said Sandy Avila, when asked how she felt minutes before walking
into the ceremony.
As the soon-to-be graduates of the San Benito High School class of 2010 gathered in the gymnasium before the graduation ceremony June 4, the students were filled with excitement, enthusiasm and a little bit of nervousness.
Look for a special graduation section in the Free Lance on Tuesday.
“We did it. I’m super excited and happy,” said Sandy Avila, when asked how she felt minutes before walking into the ceremony.
Avila came from Mexico when she was in the ninth grade and said she managed to make mostly A’s as a high school student in Hollister.
“I’m ready to go to university, in Santa Cruz,” she said. “I’m excited about my accomplishments.”
Avila has plans to study engineering and architecture, but also said she is interested in perhaps teaching math.
Cody Avina echoed Avila’s enthusiasm for the future to come after graduation.
“It’s a new chapter,” he said, adding that what he would remember most is “the energy of our class.”
He said he will be heading to Italy for the summer, where he will be studying art. In the fall he will be returning to take classes at Cabrillo College and he plans to transfer to the Art Academy in San Francisco.
“I’m just excited,” he said.
Laurie Cottrell, a physical education teacher and graduation advisor, rallied the students right before they were set to start the walk onto the baseball diamond just outside where the graduation stage was set up along with rows of chairs for family and friends.
“Where’s all the excitement?” she asked. “You will be out of here in about five hours. I’m just kidding. It will be maybe two, and you will no longer be a San Benito High School were set to start the walk onto the baseball diamond just outside where the graduation stage was set up along with rows of chairs for family and friends.
“Where’s all the excitement?” she asked. “You will be out of here in about five hours. I’m just kidding. It will be maybe two, and you will no longer be a San Benito High School student.”
The students weaved between classrooms as teachers stood along the path and cheered for them. They lined up around the baseball diamond and some of the teachers at the front of the processional started the wave. Soon students were chanting “Seniors! Seniors!”
More than 600 students walked into the ceremony to “Pomp and Circumstance,” camera flashes and cheers from family members. The girls were decked out in white robes, many in high heels and dresses. The boys wore Baler red and most had on sneakers. Many students had leis, made of flowers or money. Teachers Mario Ferrito and Chuck Schallhorn served as the masters of ceremony, and offered jokes to break up the two-and-half-hour event.
“We apologize for anyone who gets caught in the glare coming off our heads,” Ferrito started off, referring to his and Schallhorn’s bald heads.
“That’s the light of knowledge,” Schallhorn added.
Stanley Rose, San Benito High School’s superintendent, spoke just before Principal Krystal Lomanto took the stage.
“We’ve had this cold weather for months and now they turn up the heat for us because we are Balers and we can handle it,” Lomanto said. “Red hot.”
“Today is a great day to be a Baler,” she continued. “Today look around and enjoy the triumph you so richly deserve.”
Lomanto talked about the spirit of the Class of 2010, as well as the vision they had throughout the four years.
“You were involved in more varied and successful fundraisers for more causes than any other class,” she said. “You’ve shown courage.”
She encouraged the students to remember that they can accomplish anything to which they commit.
“Congratulations to the Class of 2010,” she said. “I love you. I will miss you. I wish you all the best that life has to offer.”
After her speech, the assistant principals recognized the 11 students with the highest grade point average, students with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher, and those with perfect attendance for all four years.
Maria Alvarado gave the salutatory speech and Ali Bootwala gave the valedictory speech, in which they both recognized their friends, family and the entire class.
Look for an expanded story on San Benito High School’s ceremony as well as coverage of San Andreas and Anzar high schools’ commencements in the special graduation section coming out with Tuesday’s Hollister Free Lance.
