Fairfield - Friday evening's heat wave did not dampen the mood surrounding the Angelo Rodriguez and Early College High School Class of 2022 Commencement Ceremony. The infamous Cordelia wind didn't blow anyone away either.
Stadium stands were packed with family, friends, and staff eagerly awaiting their chance to cheer for their graduate. Over 500 Mustangs walked onto the high school field while the award-winning Rodriguez High School Entertainment Unit performed the ceremonious Pomp and Circumstance.
Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Superintendent Kris Corey asked graduates to think of people who encouraged and helped them along the way to this graduation ceremony. Corey encouraged all to pay it forward and "encourage others along the way."
Mashika Mrema, ECHS Valedictorian addresses his classmates during RHS Graduation on Friday, June 10, 2022
Riley Mark, RHS Valedictorian, agreed that distance learning, and all that came with it, wasn't easy. However, Mark felt that "it has made this past year that much more special." She hoped that her fellow graduates would choose to remember the memories made and the relationships formed when they think about high school. Mashika Mrema and Jordan Thompson, ECHS Valedictorians, also addressed their fellow graduates.
Riley will attend UCLA in the fall, majoring in Psychology, and hopes to continue changing the lives of the people around her for the better. Mrema will attend the University of Chicago in the fall. Thompson graduates with a high school diploma and two associate's degrees from Solano Community College. He will attend UC Davis working towards a Computer Science Degree.
Madilynne Rote, Senior Class President, insightfully shared, "What we've experienced these past few years will teach us what to do and lead up where we are meant to be in life."
Rodriguez and Early College High School graduates eagerly await their name to be called during Friday's commencement ceremony.
Growing up in a different country didn't stop Trisha Macagba from striving for greatness. Student of theYear and FSUSD Student Governing Board Member, Macagba was reminded by her mother that she could be whatever she wanted to be.
Rote plans to attend Loyola Marymount University to student Marketing. Macagba has been awarded a full-ride scholarship from the U.S Army ROTC to her school of choice. She plans to attend one of the University of California Institutions to become a lawyer.
Rodriguez High School Principal, John Pizzo, eagerly shared the accomplishments of the 64 seniors who participated in the program. Not only have all of them met the requirements to graduate from high school, but together they earned almost 3,000 college credits as a class.
By Friday evening's ceremony, 21 of the 64 ECHS seniors had already graduated from Solano Community College with one or more Associates Degrees. Pizzo expressed, "We couldn't be more proud."
Please click here to see more images from this graduation ceremony.