MAHTA ROSENFELD/Simi Valley Acorn GRINNING GRADS-From left, Gabe Sanchez, Allen Leby, Jad Dabbour, Brandon Manasse, Mitchell Law and Dustin Moore celebrate the culmination of four years at Royal High School.

It was about this time in 1988 when Marilyn and Pres Lovato attended their oldest child’s graduation at Royal High School. Since then, the Lovatos have seen all eight of their children enroll in the Simi Valley school. Their 13-year-old son Darren will attend Royal this fall.

"More fences and there was no stadium," said Marilyn Lovato as she looked over the campus prior to last week’s graduation ceremony. She had to stand by a fence because the stadium seats were full. She recalled that the graduations were once held in a small quad area on campus. Times have changed, she said.

Lovato watched proudly as her seventh child, Mercedes, graduated with 545 other seniors in the class of 2004. Mercedes was crowned prom queen, played varsity softball and finished with a 4.0 grade average.

Attending the ceremony was another potential Royal grad: Lovato’s 1-year-old granddaughter.

Among the many students clad in purple caps and gowns were Tiffany Waterbury and Michael Ponce. The two completed Royal High School’s special education program and received Certificates of Completion. Their instructor, Jim Moderhak, has been teaching special education in the Simi Valley District for 30 years and was there to honor three graduates from his class of 14.

Royal Principal Bob LaBelle, in his welcoming address, encouraged the graduates to follow late President Ronald Reagan’s "unquenchable ‘can do’ spirit." He inspired the Class of 2004 to reach for the stars and to mirror Reagan’s "proactive and optimistic attitude."

"Our future, from looking at the class of 2004, is in good hands," LaBelle told the seniors, family members and friends.