Dana Hills Grads Prepared to Reach New Heights
PU SE LLO CT U IO T N
As the familiar first notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” began to play on the afternoon of Friday, June 19 in the Dana Hills High School stadium, friends and family crowding the bleachers sat up straight, craning to get a first glimpse of “their” graduate as he or she filed in among the waves of the 676-member sea of blue and white, known collectively as the class of 2015. Principal Jason Allemann, himself a Dana Hills graduate, led the ceremony, congratulating the students for their accomplishment and expressing every confidence in their ability to move forward to even greater heights in the future. As diplomas were distributed, the announcement of every student’s name ushered an exuberant peak of applause, cheers and even a few air horn blasts. Commencement speeches kicked off with an address by Scholar of Scholars Christian Martindale, who commended fellow grads on their everyday displays of good character and called upon them to continue to surround themselves with other upstanding people who understand the value of a good reputation as a key ingredient to success. Hayleigh Shobar recalled memories of the many “firsts” she and her classmates experienced together over the past four years, gave credit to those who lent their support along the way and encouraged her peers to approach the future with open minds and well-earned confidence. Daniel Sabri urged the class to “never forget the past, always treasure the present and forever look to the future.” And Evelyn Roberts rallied the class to continue to “bleed blue,” exhibiting the personality, excellence, spontaneity, vitality and resilience that are hallmarks of Dana Hills culture. After the traditional turning of the tassels, graduates sent their mortarboards flying in celebration followed by the release of white doves—both symbolic gestures illustrating that, for the class of 2015, the sky’s the limit.—Andrea Swayne