The brief heat wave of last week took a break just long enough for the Oakdale Junior High School Rams and Oakdale High School Mustangs to enjoy cool, yet somewhat windy graduation ceremonies.
Kicking off the two days of celebration, a total of 352 OJHS students filled the field of the Mustang Corral on Thursday night, May 26 with the ceremony starting promptly at 7 pm.
“Congratulations on your accomplishments,” school principal Catherine Medlin said to the graduates. “May your experience and education from Oakdale Junior High School help you make a positive impact in high school and beyond.”
OJHS students Raegan Morrison and Baylee Trent performed the National Anthem and ASB Sergeant of Arms, Holden Carr, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ASB President Avery Jones addressed the class, making note of the odd nature of their time at OJHS, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gianna Tennis offered a Junior High Review which demonstrated the perseverance of the graduating class making memories even during their distance learning.
The Class Gift was presented by ASB Rally Commissioner Madison McTague who described a boulder which will be placed on campus and signed each year by the eighth grade class. The student indicated that at the end of each school year it will be painted over and signed once again by the next group of eighth graders.
Friday night, May 27 proved to be a bit less windy and even more popular as The Corral was packed full of family, friends and well-wishers of the 386-member OHS graduating class of 2022. Balloons, signs, leis and blow horns filled the stands of both the home and visitor’s sides, with attendees standing along the fence line as well.
Also beginning promptly at 7 p.m., Haleigh Humble led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” by Mekaylia Camacho and Emily Dubiel.
Andi Trent gave the Four Year Review, also reflecting on life and the impact of pandemic learning.
“We’ve had mixed emotions about desperately wanting to get out,” Trent said, “but not wanting to leave any of this behind. Graduation is finally here and it’s going to take the courage we learned from this chapter to close it and start a new one.”
Trent concluded her time at the podium by taking a class selfie, with all the seated seniors, noting it as their final picture together they’d have at OHS.
“That’s it guys,” she said. “The Class of 2022, Mr. Simoncini and Mr. Mills are officially out of here.”
Rounding out the ceremony was class Valedictorian Cesar Garcia Santana who brought a lot of energy, humor and wisdom to his class and the audience.
Santana gave a short, yet impressive roll call of some of the colleges the graduates will attend in the fall.
“I’d be mistaken not to acknowledge that college is not the only road after high school,” he said. “For those on that path, good luck. Remember to enjoy yourselves.”
He also commended his fellow graduating Mustangs on their accomplishments so far.
“All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” Santana continued. “All of you have courage; I’ve seen it. The courage and the determination to succeed lies deep within each and every one of you.”
