Year's class of Royal High grads counts 15 valedictorians at the top
By Darleen Principe Special to the Acorn

HARPER SMITH/Acorn Newspapers BIG DAY- Royal High School, home of the Highlanders, celebrates the graduation of the class of 2007 on Thursday, June 14.

The 570 members of the Royal High School Class of 2007 came together with great pride and accomplishment last Thursday, when administrators and faculty presented them to friends and family as graduates at their longanticipated commencement ceremony.

Hundreds of guests filled the football field's homeside bleachers at 6 p.m., while a small student ensemble welcomed them with a rendition of "Olympic Fanfare."

The graduates, wearing the spirited green and gold of the Royal Highlanders, marched into the stadium as loved ones in the stands were cued by the familiar sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance."

Following the processional, ASB President Peggy Chow gave welcoming remarks and led the flag salute. Senior Samantha Corralejo's rendition of the national anthem received loud cheers.

Class President Katie Ferber introduced district guests, and class vice president Maribel Gallegos introduced the members of the school board attending the ceremony. Senior class secretary Courtney Miller introduced the school's principal, Dan Houghton.

"He has the roar of a lion but a heart of gold," said Miller in her introduction.

In his welcoming message, Houghton urged students to always remember the ongoing support they received from their families. He also gave extended recognition to faculty and to the graduates themselves for their hard work and dedication.

"As you, the Class of 2007, receive your diplomas, I ask that you take with you the lessons that you've learned over the last 13 years of school," Houghton said.

Houghton also introduced the 15 valedictorians, including Chase Fischer, who played the tuba in the welcoming ensemble; Lauren Manger, who will pursue a major in environmental science at UCSB; and Kayla Nang, who's been accepted as a biochemistry major at UC Berkeley.

The other 12 valedictorians are Mariam Baqi, Kenzan Boo, Lisa Chauv, Aaron Goldberg, Michelle Graeser, Max Jacobs, Bryan Koenig, Bao Le, Wyatt Lienhard, Angela Lin, Jeanine McDonell and Erin Moore.

Before Houghton gave the final presentation of the class of 2007, student speaker Danny Sullivan took the podium to address his fellow classmates.

"We can literally do anything we want," said Sullivan, who shared humorous stories about teachers, classes and campus events and spoke of what the future may hold for his fellow graduates. Sullivan ended his speech with a simple but enthusiastic message to his peers.

"Congratulations, everyone! Let's graduate!" he said.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the class and the conferring of the diplomas. After every senior's name was called, Royal High School's Class of 2007 turned their tassels, threw their caps into the air and, as official high school graduates, joined their friends and families in celebration.