More than 500 SBHS graduates will bring their diploms into the
adult world
Hollister – An overcast sky cleared just in time to let the sun shine on the procession of more than 500 San Benito High School seniors as they walked out for the school’s annual commencement ceremony.
Proud father Rick Montag stood up to get a few pictures of his daughter Amanda before she took her seat.
“I’m most proud of her ability to overcome the many obstacles that she has faced this year,” Montag said. “She has been accepted to Cal State Northridge and she will be focusing on journalism.”
Student Body President Spenser Genesy enthusiastically welcomed his classmates to the ceremony, calling on them to always remember their Baler pride.
“This school has accomplished so much,” Genesy said. “In my heart I’ll always be a ‘baler.”
The graduating class, dressed in the school’s traditional red and white gowns, sat down for the ceremony, poignantly aware that this would be their last chance to all be together.
“This is the last step for major maturation before we really have to be on our own,” said graduating senior Nick Kostielney, a former center for the SBHS football team who graduated summa cum laude.
Senior Class President Paige Gardener delivered the senior address, which she followed with an inspirational song. Prior to her speech she asked the 6,000 people in the audience to take a moment of silence for all of her classmates that did not make it this far.
“This journey does not end today,” Gardener said. “Now our job is to establish our independence on our own.”
Superintendent Jean Burns Slater asked the students to reflect on their future during her address.
“These opportunities allow you to consider who you actually are and who you want to be,” Slater said. “I believe that this day, June 10, 2005 will be cherished forever.”
Following Slater, SBHS Principal Debbie Padilla praised the class of 2005 for completing a very difficult part of their lives. She was visibly proud of the 38 students who graduated with a 4.0 or better grade point average and the 14 students who never missed a single day of class during their four years of high school. That’s 720 days.
“You have challenged me in my first year as principal,” Padilla told the students. “Now I challenge you to bring the ‘baler code with you outside of these walls.”
Special recognition was also given to two members of the 1944 graduating class. Dorothy Tomiko Obata-Kobara and Toshie Nishita-Sakai received a standing ovation from the crowd. At the time of their original graduation, both women were in Japanese internment camps. The camps were set up by President Roosevelt in 1942 at the height of anti-Japanese hysteria following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Salutatorian and one of the only 14 students with perfect attendance, Lucas Muro summed up the graduation experience.
“Today marks a celebration for all,” Muro said.
