Photo by Erin Rodick / TRIBUNE
It’s difficult to imagine a high school that celebrates graduation with more panache than San Marino High, with its glittering grounds, custom-made Grad Nights and community-wide sense of anticipation.
And last Friday morning, tasked with creating an efficient, safe yet meaningful ceremony for the class of 2020, approximately 40 teachers, counselors, board of education members, administrators and community volunteers pulled off a more than representative facsimile of the annual event.
Well over 200 of the 280 graduates took advantage of the drive-thru commencement format that has become so popular due to the restrictions forced upon the communities by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduates and their families decorated their cars with paint, balloons and other creative touches to provide a small slice of normalcy to the proceedings. Participants arrived at SMHS according to a predetermined schedule, cruising up the west drive of the campus, where they were met by staff members and led to an area where in short order, they heard their name announced over a loudspeaker, received their diploma and took a series of photos. Family members, who were required to remain in their vehicles, followed along, and were able to snap photos from a safe distance.
Staff members Jose Cairé, David Irie and Terry Murphy formulated the plan, which was met with approval by graduates and family members alike.
“Driving up to the ceremony, I could feel all of the love and celebratory energy from all of the faculty, staff and administrators who were present,” said Ashley Wang, outgoing ASB president, who will soon begin her studies at UC Davis. “The logistics were extremely well planned and gave the class of 2020 an opportunity to celebrate a huge milestone in a way that was safe for all. In addition, seeing everyone one last time after an abrupt end to the academic year was super refreshing and rewarding.
“I am so grateful to all involved in the logistics of the event, as we were able to safely celebrate amidst the pandemic.”
Santino Zappia, a Titan baseball player who this spring saw his senior season scrubbed due to the school’s closure amid the coronavirus crisis, was similarly impressed.
“I was very pleased with Friday’s graduation,” said Zappia. “Although it was not a traditional San Marino graduation, it was the best we could do during these times. I think the administrators put on a great event with what they were given. It is sad to have my high school career end with a drive-thru graduation, but in these times, it’s better than no graduation at all.”
Members of the class had insisted on the rescheduled July 31 date, hoping that a traditional Grad Night event could be held on the same day. But Los Angeles County health officials would not lift restrictions barring large assembles amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases, squelching hopes of the Grad Night chairs, who maintained a positive attitude until the very end. In its stead, the class has planned a reunion for July 2021 that will piggyback on next year’s Grad Night and offer similar fare.
Because of the collective dedication to the July 31 graduation date and hopes for Grad Night, San Marino’s was among the latest known graduation ceremonies.
“I heard a few comments from colleagues outside of San Marino saying things like ‘Why are you guys bothering so late in the summer?’” said San Marino Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Wilson. “But seeing the looks in the kids’ eyes as they walked to the photo area on Friday made it all worthwhile. I saw a lot of pride and gratitude. It was great to see the teachers, counselors, and office staff who donated their time, and I give a lot of credit to [SMHS] Principal Jason Kurtenbach for his leadership and also to Terri, Jose and David for their organization.”
The ceremony was somewhat bittersweet for former SMHS Principal Issaic Gates, who was reassigned to the district office in May, but was recently announced as the principal of J.H. McGaugh Elementary School in Seal Beach, where his two daughters are students.
“Graduation is more than a ceremony at which diplomas are conferred,” said Gates, who was overseeing his final event after three years at the school. “Graduation represents the simultaneous closing of one chapter and the opening of another. In many ways, here in the United States, graduation is a rite of passage into adulthood. Graduation is everything. It is the completion of relationships, dreams and aspirations. It’s why we became educators.”
Gates also thanked the teachers, counselors board members and others from the community who pitched in on a hot July day to help host a ceremony that took exactly six hours to complete.
“We were able to hold a graduation in a way that was aligned with the traditions and values of San Marino and I couldn’t be more proud of our graduating seniors,” Gates said. “Graduation is a celebration of collective accomplishments, particularly here in San Marino.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially cruel to high school and college seniors who have been forced to abandon the final few months of their educational and athletic careers, a small amount of solace could be found at Friday’s ceremony, as at least 10% of all graduates were accompanied to the ceremony by a dog.
In a year where so much has been taken away, finally, a worthwhile first.
