Street party celebrates grads
Five families conduct informal event to honor Class of 2020
PALMDALE — Five families who live on the same eastside cul-de-sac each had a graduate in the Class of 2020.
With commencements canceled at the end of the academic year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the families got together Thursday evening and a held an informal street party with pizza, sodas, balloons and music to celebrate the teens’ accomplishments.
The graduates included Knight High School graduates Alyssa Lomeli, Nikki Valenzuela, Jacob Gee Hernandez, Damian Jeffries, Jeremiah Johnson, Cisco Andrade, Ariana Sanders and Tationa Monique Scott; Palmdale High School graduate Cherise Isaac; and Lancaster High School graduate Deasia Barnett.
Most of the graduates wore their caps and gowns for the celebration.
“It is a great celebration.
Even though it wasn’t what we wanted, it’s something great,” Johnson said.
“I’m happy to graduate,” Isaac said.
Parents Cherice Bunting and Allesha Jeffries organized the event.
“My son, when he was born, they told me he wouldn’t live past three or four hours,” Jeffries said. “He has severe brain damage. He has cerebral palsy. So for me, this is my only child and this is my pride year. And he’s doing honors in general education classes and he’s going to college.”
“We only have 10 houses on this block and out of the 10, we had five graduates,” Bunting said. “So I thought that was special and awesome. We wanted to acknowledge them. They don’t really have an opportunity to stand in front of a stage, get congratulated. This is really personal.”