GONZALES — A beautiful morning greeted the 161 students and their families and friends at Saturday’s 107th Annual Commencement at Dick Force Stadium. The Class of 2017 was one of the largest graduating classes from Gonzales in many years.
Gonzales High Principal Julius Purnsley welcomed the soon to be graduates and their families with words that honored the students.
“While we are here to honor the achievements over the course of the past four years, I wish to honor what I believe to be the most important quality that we have cultivated in you,” Purnsley said. “Some people call it determination. Others refer to it as grit. In Spanish they call it ‘ganas.’ Simply put, it is perseverance. During the past four years you have pushed yourself through difficulties and you have stayed the course. Congratulations Class of 2017!”
Senior Class Officers, including President Eileen Valdez and Vice President Daniel Hernandez, presented flowers of appreciation to Senior Class adviser, Physical Education teacher and athletic coach Margie Daniels for all her work this past year.
Alondra Urena was the Salutatorian and Cecilia Trujillo Trujillo was the Valedictorian for the ceremony. Both Urena and Trujillo were California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Members and four-year athletes. The duo won many local scholarships. Trujillo earned a full-ride to Harvard University and was featured on local television stations and newspapers for her achievement.
Superintendent Liz Modena accepted the graduated class and Purnsley then asked that diplomas be presented to the class. Gonzales High School Counselors Emily Zuniga and Miguel Malagon then read the names of each graduate to rounds of applause from the audience.
The graduation ceremony ended with a rendition of Big “G” that was played by the Gonzales High School Concert Band. The huge crowd then swarmed the field in an orderly fashion to congratulate their children.
