Following in the time-honored transition to adulthood, students will soon march into the next stage of their lives as Point Loma High School (PLHS) holds its 83rd annual graduation ceremonies for the 2008 senior class on Monday, June 16 at the newly renamed Bennie Edens Stadium.
The pomp and circumstance will be repeated Saturday, June 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. for High Tech High (HTH), from noon to 2 p.m. for High Tech High International and at 3 p.m. for High Tech High Media Arts. Commencement for all of the HTH schools will take place at the southside grass area of the Promenade at Liberty Station.
But for the moment, the spotlight belongs to the soon-to-be PLHS graduates.
“It’s a little larger class this year,” PLHS Principal Bobbie Samilson said of the 425 seniors scheduled to graduate this year. “Ninety-seven percent of them are going on to further education. And they were offered over $1.7 million worth of scholarships and grants. They’re really an incredible group of students.”
Samilson pointed out a few of the students’ exemplary accomplishments this year.
“Academically, they’ve done very well,” she said. “They’ve had a very strong Associated Student Body. They’ve really increased school spirit and school pride.”
In addition to academic aptitude, Samilson noted the students’ dedication to community service.
“I think the thing about them is not only are they strong academically, but their volunteerism is strong as well,” she said. “They had a blood drive here in Point Loma at the high school, and they really made a difference.”
Samilson noted that the students’ efforts garnered PLHS one of the top spots for blood donations this year.
Speaking about the fruits of this class’s academic accomplishments, Samilson said, “Academically, three of our kids got full rides to Berkeley, one to Stanford, one to San Diego State University and then one of them received the Dell Scholar, which is a $20,000 renewable scholarship and a Dell laptop.”
Samilson also touted the local organizations that rewarded students.
“The Point Loma Optimists give our students three $4,000 scholarships,” Samilson said.
At this year’s commencement Samilson will give a brief address, as will salutatorian Elizabeth Navarro and valedictorian Claire Johns.
Johns said she’s already excited.
“It’s a big honor to represent my class, definitely,” Johns said. “It’s exciting and also it’s really kind of scary for all of our high school experience to be over. But it’s really great that we’ve all made it through together. There’s going to be unity at the graduation.”
Johns, who will be attending University of California, Berkeley next year with plans to tentatively major in biochemistry, expressed nostalgia when looking back over the past four years.
“One thing is, I really like the community feeling,” she said. “Even though Point Loma High is a big school, I feel that I still know a lot of people on campus and I have the same classes with a lot of people and that won’t really be the way it is in college. “¦ I know most of the administration and the teachers, so that’s going to be different, having to forge that new relationship when I go to college.”
Looking forward, Johns expressed faith that this year’s graduating seniors will be successful in many facets.
“I’m sure we’ll all adjust to whatever we decide to do next, whether it’s going into the military or workforce or college,” she said.
Johns said she will have fond memories of her graduating class.
“We were all really spirited about our football team this year, especially the seniors,” Johns said. “And so, when our football team went to Qualcomm Stadium this year for the CIF finals, the cheer section that I was in was all seniors. That was really cool because we were the most spirited people there and the guys were painted and that was really crazy.”
Point Loma High’s graduation ceremony is scheduled to start at 3 p.m., with ticketed guests encouraged to arrive by 2 p.m. to secure their seats. Although each graduating senior was allotted eight tickets to give to friends and family, Samilson said this should not be a deterrent.
“The students have tickets, but there’s always standing room,” Samilson said. “We want everyone to come who wants to be there.”
For more information, visit www.pointlomahigh.com.