Joyous Assembly Puts the Wraps On A Truly Sensational School Year, But Not Before One Final Surprise
It’s reportedly the largest class in the history of San Marino High School and its members have achieved at a level representative of their size. A notion that was confirmed in the first few moments of the address by Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss.
“Please briefly stand and be seated if you or your team is a Rio Hondo League or CIF champion,” Cherniss said, as about 10 percent of the grads complied. He followed up by making a like request for members of the school’s Robotics, mock trial, speech and debate, band, orchestra, dance, drama, and choir programs. Or if a grad would be attending a University of California or an Ivy League university. Or passed an AP class.
By the time he was finished, every student had made it to their feet at least once.
“And finally, to make sure I got all of you, please stand if you passed health class,” he said, as the entire graduating class rose as one in a spontaneous roar of laughter.
Dr. Cherniss then told the assemblage “for all of you, the sky’s the limit!” while pointing towards the eastern sky, where a choreographed, four-airplane flyover was descending over Titan Stadium.
The blizzard of activity provided a promising start to what was truly one of the most outstanding graduation/Grad Night celebrations in recent memory.
San Marino High School Principal Mary Johnson used a surfing motif to bid farewell to her soon-to-be-former senior class.
“From the ‘Glossary of Surfing Terms:’ A barrel is where the wave is hollow when it is breaking,” Mrs. Johnson began. “For some surfers it’s the be-all and end-all of surfing. The endless wave came to mind as I reflected on the 2015-16 school year, because the Class of 2016 caught the big wave this year and rode it to the very end.”
She then touched on brief highlights of the school year, beginning with the naming of 12 SMHS seniors as National Merit Scholars, “the mythical, magical football season that just kept going, creating legends of team, coach, and individual players” and the announcement of three All-American athletes: Devon Jack, Ryan Cheng and J.P. Shohfi.
Johnson listed a major accomplishment from virtually each segment of campus life.
“Your ride has been long and beautiful to watch,” she said.
“Yes, you rode the barrel this year,” she concluded. “Be patient with those flat, seemingly endless lows that will come, and know that swells will form, and there will be other waves to catch. Thank you for creating a legacy at San Marino High School, about which we will be forever proud.”
Graduating seniors Rachelle Liu and Nathan Lam then addressed their classmates, who were assembled as a group for the final time, leading off with an homage to the parents “who have walked with us every step of the way,” said Nathan. “You came to our performances, attended our sporting events, and chaperoned our tournaments. Thank you for your endless support in our ambitions and entire high school career. From driving us to school on those hectic mornings to making PowerSchool your homepage, these are just a few of the thousands of ways you’ve supported us on our journey.”
Rachelle then reminded her cohorts of their outstanding accomplishments, ending her tour of memory lane by saying, “I think it’s safe to say we have certainly made our mark on campus.”
The two speakers went in vastly different directions when offering quotes from famous people.
Nathan led off.
“Snoop Dogg once said, ‘If it’s flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s, be the best hamburger flipper in the world,” he said as the audience chuckled. “’Whatever it is you do, you have to master your craft.’ We as a class must strive for excellence in all and in everything we do.”
Rachelle used the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson to accentuate her point.
“’What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you,’” she said, quoting the poet. “’We are not defined by our past and we cannot let it determine our future. Take this opportunity for what it is, a chance to rediscover who we are.’”
School Board President Nam Jack – whose daughter, Devon, was on the field as a member of the graduating class of 2016 – delivered a heartfelt speech about the importance of family and its impact on the lives of the graduates. Her address was humorous, poignant and emotional. Jack joked about the top 10 things your mother or father would never say, including “Why yes, you can have more money – I have an endless supply.” “I guess if everyone is doing it, it is okay.” “When is it my turn to wash the dishes? It seems as if it has been forever” and “You know when you get right down to it, I am your cleaning lady!”
She asked everyone to be grateful for “family,” which she declared is “defined not by DNA or a name” but by those “people who accept you for who you are, who would do anything to see you smile and love you no matter what.”
She then encouraged the grads to remember, not only to “call home,” but to “call home often” and to “never, ever, forget your way back home.”
They sure knew the way to Grad Night, themed ‘Jurassic Park,’ which provided yet more memories and – as San Marino resident Lisa Sloan once profoundly said – “one last hug for our children before sending them out into the world.”
Don’t miss The Tribune’s Graduation Special Section for more photos and a list of where each of the new graduates is attending school. Check out more photos at sanmarinophotos.com
