In a step departing from past tradition, the San Benito High
School graduation committee has chosen not to have a guest speaker
at this year’s ceremony.
In a step departing from past tradition, the San Benito High School graduation committee has chosen not to have a guest speaker at this year’s ceremony.
With more than 400 students graduating Friday, the ceremony can be long and hot, and sometimes, making a shorter ceremony is better, said Krystal Lomanto, SBHS graduation ceremony liaison.
“It’s hot and they’re (guest speakers) difficult to find,” she said. “It’s hard to find someone to do it and we end up getting the same people over and over.”
Friday’s ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and should last 90 minutes to two hours, said Shelley Donati, co-chairperson of the SBHS graduation committee.
Donati said the decision to not have a guest speaker was made in the fall and was approved by the graduation committee, which is made up of as many as 70 members.
“It happened at one of our very first meetings,” she said. “We considered the number of graduates we had and the time of the ceremony. We also felt it was important to have students speak.”
The school’s Associated Student Body president, senior class president, valedictorian, salutatorian and administration personnel give speeches, Donati said.
“We want to keep it personal,” she said.
Each speaker, students as well as adults, submits a copy of what they will say for approval by committee members. There was, however, a past incident where the guest speaker diverted from their approved speech, Lomanto said.
Donati stressed that the decision not to have a guest speaker is up to each year’s graduation committee.
“It’s something (each) committee needs to look at each year,” Donati said.
