Incredible Resiliency This spring, when the state’s stay-at-home orders came down and the region’s students were moved to distance learning, school and district officials, faculty and support staff abruptly shifted gears—as did the kids. Here, let’s applaud them all on a job well done, starting with our high school seniors.
CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2020! Most of them were born in the wake of 9/11, lived through the Great Recession and graduated in the time of COVID-19. Their senior proms, sports and academic awards nights, end-of-year dinners, Disneyland trips, traditional graduation ceremonies and Sober Grad Night: cancelled. They face uncertainty in their college plans. But they have stayed hardy and optimistic, and we salute them.
“
“Class of 2020—In a time of great challenge, you are resilient, strong, and exemplify great promise! You will go far. Congratulations on your significant achievement!”
—Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools
“Congratulations, you’ve conquered this level of education and endured COVID-19’s challenges; now go create your new destiny and, remember, nothing’s impossible if you put your mind to it!”—Brian K.
Veerkamp, County Board of Supervisor (Chair), Lori M. Veerkamp, El Dorado Union High School District Board Member
“High school graduation is a defining, yet bittersweet moment. Virtually overnight, one chapter of life
46
ends while another one begins. My wish for all of you is that you follow your dreams and achieve great things, because the best is yet to come. Class of 2020, congratulations on one of many successes!” —Andrea Howard, Principal Planner, Parker Development Company
“To the graduating class of 2020—Congratulations! You have undertaken the first critical step on a sure pathway to success, and I hope that you will continue on this course. Your whole lives are ahead of you, and what you have the potential to accomplish is incalculable. Your journey going forward will certainly have more of the diversity that you have encountered, and conquered, during your final semester of high school. Keep conquering it, and keep perse-
vering. Godspeed.”—Vern Pierson, El Dorado County District Attorney
“Having a grandchild graduating this year, I know how much effort is involved for the student and the parents. Your lives have been actionpacked with school, sports and other activities. You’ve accomplished great things and now have experienced this strange time as young adults with great resilience. I am very proud of the tenacious class of 2020.—Bill Parker, President, Parker Development Company
“Congratulations, class of 2020. I offer these words of wisdom from President Harry S. Truman, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”—John D’Agostini, El Dorado County Sheriff
SERRANO SUMMER 2020
Education new.indd 46
6/19/20 3:50 PM
