Photo Gallery: Hats Off to the Class of 2011: MHS Seniors Graduate

Monrovia High students took the field at Wildcat Stadium Thursday night to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2011 on graduation night and send them off to follow their dreams and aspirations.

With the choir and band serenading them, this year’s graduates entered the stadium to a roaring, packed crowd of proud parents, relatives and friends providing the ambience of a championship game with the star players taking the field.

Principal Darvin Jackson started the commencement ceremony with a bit of bad news that luckily had a happy ending. Students Kevin Pestanas, Faustino Macatangay and Jeremey Pineda were involved in a serious car accident in the morning, but their injuries did not prevent them from attending graduation. The crowd responded with a roar of cheers and enthusiastic clapping to what could have been a tragic event to dampen a joyous occasion.

“This class is departing with us being ranked in the top 20 percent of similar schools in California,” Jackson said. “In the past three years, this class has had the highest increase in test scores at Monrovia High School. Ninety-Six percent are going on to receive a post-secondary education. Monrovia High School is truly a better place because of your contributions over the last four years."

Jackson also praised efforts by the music, art and film departments and gave recognition to the football and volleyball teams.

Principal Jackson was joined on stage with Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, all five school board members, Superintendent Linda Wagner and Keynote Speaker Ryann Blackshere.

Blackshere went on to Stanford after graduating from Monrovia High to receive a degree in communications before entering a masters program at Columbia University. She has worked as an intern for First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House and is now a news desk assistant for NBC’s Washington Bureau.

“No matter how great people think you are or how much they think you need to improve, there has to be a personal drive and will inside of you that expects the best,” Blackshere said. “You will now be responsible for all that you do. Be confident knowing you can meet your expectations as long as you are doing things you are passionate about, … and you know will make a difference."

Samantha Wette, this year’s valedictorian, lauded her graduating class.

“This is doubtlessly the best graduating class to ever have existed anywhere,” she stated. “We’re incredible! We are good at what we do. Enjoy this moment, cause it’s the moments that matter. I do have a favor to ask…be nice to everyone you meet, get down on Fridays, stand up and vote for what you believe in and smile a lot. Let your individuality shine because you were born this way."

And this year’s salutatorian Cesar Campos made his best efforts to define success as more than just winning, recalling a story about beating his grandmother in Monopoly.

“Every time I played her she beat me,” he said.  “So next time I played I decided I would win no matter what. I bought every railroad, put a hotel on every property and I laughed as I ruthlessly bankrupted my grandmother. I was so happy that I finally beat her, but then she smiled at me and said, ‘Now it all goes back in the box.’"

"Success is not about accumulating wealth, especially if you have to hurt others. What really matters is how you play the game," Campos added. "The game is not going to be easy, but as Rocky Balboa said, ‘It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.'"

The farewell address was given by student body President Jose Serra, who emphasized that students should try to truly reach the person they are inside.

“I think the most important tool is the gift of individuality. The most important thing is to be yourself. It’s the most courageous thing a person could ever do. No matter where you are…never lose essence of you,” Serra said.

In addition to the speakers, Economics and American Government teacher Paul Dols was honored with an award for his great contribution to the school. The plaque he received read: ‘You Can Change the World.’

On that note, students came up to receive their diplomas, flipped their tassels and then tossed their caps in the air in celebration of accomplishments and left the field and on to their new future--whatever that may be.