San Benito High School’s 2014 class lost a student to gunshot wounds freshmen year, rallied around a classmate diagnosed with leukemia on Valentine’s Day and saw a valedictorian get admitted to Princeton.
“This class has shown tremendous heart,” said Principal Krystal Lomanto, as she gave her farewell address.
More than 600 high school graduates left San Benito High School on Friday. Lomanto’s speech was more of a goodbye than most principals’ graduation speeches as she is departing with this class and will leave her position as principal to become county superintendent.
“Class of 2014, I want you to know,” said Lomanto, as her voice cracked with emotion, “that your dreams, goals and passions for the future have also influenced me more than you’ll ever know, as I’m proud to graduate with you.”
Among the graduating seniors were 18 students who had perfect attendance for four years and 27 students who graduated with grade-point averages of 4.0 or higher.
Valedictorian Pablo Azcona gave a speech — complete with music — that brought down the house and encouraged the crowd to go out in search of their dreams.
“Look around. We built lasting friendships here at San Benito High School and it’s the reason we call ourselves a family,” he said. “It is this camaraderie that allows us to pursue higher endeavors.”
The high school senior turned down Princeton University to study civil engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He also brought home the Gates Millennium Scholars scholarship this spring, given to only 1,000 students across the nation and promising all winners a full ride to the college of their choice.
“To deny a student their dreams is an offense but to allow them to prosper is a gift to society and the student,” he said. “Now we must lead ourselves — our elders to a better tomorrow. We are taking over. Get used to it.”
“Pablo, Pablo, Pablo,” chanted the crowd as they gave the student thunderous applause and a standing ovation during his speech.
“It’s crazy for people to get that excited over a graduation speech,” said Spanish teacher Deborah Rodriguez. “That was amazing.”
While Pablo’s speech was the most applauded, his classmate Jose Rocha received just as much applause — or more — when he picked up his diploma.
Rocha was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this spring, and it took a great deal of heart for him to make it to graduation.
“It was amazing,” said Rocha, who attended chemotherapy from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. that morning before heading to the high school for commencement. “I graduated with all my peers and all my friends.”
He threw his hands up in the air and beamed as he walked down the ramp from the graduation stage with his diploma.
Rocha was one of many happy – and sometimes teary eyed – students in the crowd.
“There’s nothing like it,” said graduate Angel Romero, 18, the last person in the class to receive a diploma. “It’s extraordinary. We’re finally here.”
A moment of silence was held for classmate Genevieve Destefanis, who was a freshman at the school and started with the class of 2014, but was shot and killed before she could graduate.
Members of the graduating class are going to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, every CSU in the system and all branches of the military, according to the school principal.
“You are an amazing class,” said Lomanto. “The class of 2014 has chosen the theme of ‘if you can dream it you can do it’ – and you’ve done it with incredible fashion.”
Look back for photos from graduation.
