Huge crowd turns out to usher in next generation of Simi High grads
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

MIGUEL MORALES/Acorn Newspapers GLAD GRADS- Simi High's class of 2007 listens to a speech during Thursday's ceremony.

On a day parents and seniors anticipate all year, 1,500 friends and family members attended Simi Valley High School's Class of 2007 commencement ceremony last Thursday.

The huge gathering of supporters could be heard as far away as Yosemite Avenue as they cheered and blasted blow horns during the speeches, dances and songs that marked a day of accomplishment for more than 500 proud Pioneer graduates.

Celebrators filled Simi's central quad and crowded around the Class of 2007, but not before filling up every available parking spot within a halfmile radius. The sea of spectators all but concealed the of maroon-and-gold-garbed graduates waiting patiently to cross the stage and receive their diplomas.

Senior Lauren Levy got the ball rolling with her "Independence Day" speech, which offered a humorous look at the trials and tribulation students meet on the road to graduation.

The crowd roared with laughter at times during her speech- and fell silent in contemplation at other moments.

"We are ready to graduate today," Levy said. "We are ready to keep learning tomorrow."

The evening's mood was typical for a Southern California graduation ceremony: relaxed. Beach balls bounced across the quad and on the heads of spectators on chairs and in the grass. Audience members shouted out names of students as they gave speeches and performed on the colorful stage. Tae "Ted" An, one of five valedictorians, got everyone to do the wave before his speech, "Remember, Just Remember," in which he spoke about his experience growing up in a culture different from his native one.

"Coming to America was the best thing that could have ever happened to me," An said. "As a little boy I would have never guessed I'd be speaking before (Simi High's graduating class)."

An plans to attend UC Berkeley and major in environmental economics and policy.

The class's four other valedictorians are Jeff Chuang, Kaitlyn Hamilton, Steven Swanson and Jenna Williams. Salutatorian was Christina Smith.

While the day belonged to Simi's senior class, parents in the crowd couldn't conceal their delight. Patrick Green stood at the back of the crowd with his video camera trying to capture his son Kyle's once-in-a-lifetime moment.

"It's been a long road with Kyle, but I know he'll do well after high school," Green said. "I'm so proud of my boy."

June 14 marked the beginning of the next chapter- each different- in the life of every member of the Class of 2007.

For Ryan Doolittle, who plans to return to Simi Valley and teach, a "challenging but rewarding" career was on the horizon, he said. He will attend Cal State Northridge in the fall. "There are a lot of things I'd like to do but I am sure I will be teaching math," Doolittle said. "Maybe I'll even come back and teach at Simi High."