As Will C. Wood Principal Adam Rich put it in his commencement address before the 2020 graduates’ family and friends at Wildcat Stadium Saturday night, “Better late than never.”
About 150 of a graduating class of 320 marched onto the football field to Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” at the in-person graduation ceremony that never happened last year due to COVID-19. Each student was permitted to invite up to eight family or friends.
Those graduates who did not attend may have been unable due to joining the military or attending colleges out of state or having careers distant from Vacaville. But those who did attend were treated to the full program that they missed last year, when they had to settle for a virtual program.
Rich said as far as he knows, the Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) is the only district in the state that is holding retroactive in-person graduation ceremonies.
2020 graduate Valerie Hernandez, who attended Solano Community College this past year online, said, “I was very disappointed that we weren’t able to have an actual graduation. And I do remember when it did hit me and I did realize that we weren’t going to have an actual celebration, I kind of started to cry a little bit. So I’m super grateful that we had this opportunity.”
Hernandez, who has four cats and a dog, is earning credits at Solano so that she can transfer to the University of California, Davis or another university to study veterinary medicine.
Her friend and cross-country teammate Zoe Johnson spent her freshman college year distance learning from home at Chico State, where she was also able to join a sorority online. She is a history major and wants to be a history teacher one day.
Robert Matias said his biggest challenge on Saturday night was getting his graduation cap over the Afro he has grown in the past year. He is studying automotive engineering at Sierra College and enjoys tinkering with his 2002 Subaru WRX “Bug Eye” wagon.
2020 graduate Victoria Nichols, who attended New York University online this past year in the vocal performance school of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, sang the national anthem a capella for Saturday’s ceremony.
A four-year choir member at Wood, she sang the Star Spangled Banner with the choir for three years, then was shut out from singing it due to COVID last year. So she was honored to sing it solo this time. She did a beautiful rendition.
In his commencement address, Rich gave special thanks to VUSD Communications Director Elaine Kong, who he said spearheaded the effort to ensure the 2020 graduates would get an in-person ceremony this year. He also thanked Assistant Principal Kelly Briggs for her efforts.
Rich noted that he was a freshman principal the year that the class of 2020 were freshmen. He said that seeing a class graduate is “the proudest moment a school principal can ever have.” He also said, “I wasn’t sure this day would ever come.” But the fact that it did “restores our faith, energizes our spirits and proves that hope is still the greatest force in the universe.”
He said he offered no sage advice but is just so glad to see the class again and wants to know how each one is doing and the lessons they have learned.
Emily Torres, who has been attending UC Berkeley online and is studying chemical engineering, gave the Valedictorian’s speech.
She thanked teachers, parents and everyone who helped her and her classmates survive this pandemic year.
“The world has changed a lot since we graduated,” she said. “And over the past year so have all of us. Some went off to college, some went into the workforce and some have left home to start their lives as adults. We’ve spread out and all our paths have diverged… But one day when you’re looking back at the path that your life took, you’ll eventually get back to high school.”
She continued, “I’m so incredibly proud of us for the challenges we’ve overcome and the adjustments we’ve had to make… The class of 2020 is a class of change and action. We will continue to make impacts on those around us, positive change in our community, and success will follow us.”
Tracy Ruiz delivered the teacher’s speech, noting that “this is the only class in history to have a reunion before a graduation.” She said that “as your teachers, we grieved with you (over missing last year’s graduation ceremony). That’s why tonight is special.” She added, “By choosing to give yourself and your family this moment, your have the power to chose this chapter of your life on your terms.”
Lauren Reagan, who has been attending Sacramento State online and working at Dutch Bros Coffee in Vacaville, gave the Senior Speaker’s speech.
“Life after high school is something a lot of people talk about, but you can only understand what they mean once you’ve experienced it,” she said. “It’s hard, exhausting, stressful, and a lot of things come up out of nowhere. But it’s also fun, exciting and you get to experience this new sense of freedom you’ve never felt before.”
She added, “In the time since last June, our world has experienced injustice, inequality, hatred and a virus. But I want you all to stay focused on the light, even in the darkness. We have the ability to change the world and create a new normal. There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to make this world a better place.”
After Reagan’s speech, Rich presented the class to VUSD Superintendent Dr. Jane Shamieh and VUSD President Michael Kitzes. Rich then presented each member of the graduating class. There were no handshakes, although students were permitted to remove their masks as they stepped up to the podicum. Ric posed with each student for a photo, one which the VUSD has offered to pay for.
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A year later, Will C. Wood holds in-person graduation - Vacaville Reporter
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