A Different Graduation

Graduation is such an exciting time. It’s actually more of a season, starting with prom, followed by scholarship distribution (for the lucky ones), finals, then finishing with the big walk across the stage.

This year I had the chance to attend the Glendale Latino Association’s scholarship distribution breakfast on Thursday morning. I did arrive late, but was able to hear some descriptions of the achievements of a few of the recipients, which were awe-inspiring. On Saturday morning, the Community Foundation of the Verdugos also held a breakfast for recipients of several of the scholarships that the Foundation oversees. I sit on the board of one of the organizations that gives scholarships every year and had the privilege of reading the applicants’ essays. Learning of the challenges these students have overcome, from health issues to poverty to fractured families, is truly inspiring. I wish we had more funds to give!

On Tuesday afternoon, I was sitting on the field to shoot Crescenta Valley High School graduation photos for the paper as I have for the past several years. This was a unique year, though, for many reasons.

This was the first year that I was seated on the CVHS campus field. As most know, graduation has traditionally been held on Stengel Field in Glendale. The bleachers have been determined to be unsafe and in disrepair, so last year the ceremony was moved to Glendale Community College. This year that option was not available because GCC finals were being held. Because of the efforts of two graduating CV students, it was decided to try holding graduation on the school’s Osborne Field.

With few exceptions, everything went well. One suggestion for future events would include having better crowd control so the students could actually make their way to and from their seats without being accosted by eager family and friends. But bless music director Mat Schick who, like the trio on the Titanic that played until the ship went down, kept the music going until the bitter end.

Another unique quality of this year’s ceremony was the soon-to-be departure of principal Michele Doll, who made a point of trying to give a hug to all the graduates, many of whom were students of hers while she was principal at Rosemont.

A couple of key acknowledgements were lacking as well. Missing was the Falkon robot built by F.I.R.S.T. team 589. Usually the robot makes a presentation to the school administration during the ceremony. Also missing was the announcement of those students who earned a medallion for completing 100 volunteer hours while at CV; the students who completed health academy; the thespians who earned their cord; the directive for the students to move their tassel from one side of their mortarboard to the other; and finally the congratulatory message that signals the tossing of caps into the air.

Hopefully these absences did little to dampen the mood of the graduates. After all, this is a once in a lifetime achievement, and every one of them have reached a milestone in their journey.

Our Youth section includes photos from several graduations/promotions across the foothills. Who knows? You may see someone you know!

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A little note to say thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts on the launch of Discover Crescenta Valley that was distributed last week. The staff here at the CV Weekly is so pleased that so many of you love the publication and we are already writing down ideas for next year’s issue.

  robin goldsworthy