Independence High graduates cross finish line
The Charlene Powers Lange Theatre at Hutchins Street Square was filled with family members, teachers and mentors anxiously awaiting the moment that their graduate would walk across the stage and receive their diplomas during the Independence High School Class of 2017 graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon.
After so much hard work and overcoming so much adversity, 55 students made it to the finish line and were excited to share this moment of accomplishment with all who supported them over the years.
“Family members and friends, thank you so much for coming today,” Dr. Dominee Muller-Kimball, Independence High School principal, said. “It means so much to the students. It means so much to the faculty and staff and also Lodi Unified School District.”
After the graduates made their way into the auditorium, three of the students each welcomed everyone in their native language. Jayla Washington welcomed the crowd in English, Sayra Briano in Spanish and Shorook Hassan in Arabic.
Muller-Kimball took a moment to address the students and the crowd while conducting the ceremony Thursday afternoon.
“This year the students who are sitting on this stage are the true definition of the term game-changer,” Muller Kimball said. “Students come to Independence for a variety of reasons. Irregardless each student came to independence to start a new game plan.”
She recalled the first time she met with the students and learned their stories.
“What’s so amazing and this common element with all of these students is that each was determined to graduate from high school and each was determined to earn a diploma,” Muller-Kimball said. “To me that means everything.”
During the ceremony, graduate Jayla Washington shared her story and how she came to be a student at Independence High. Washington came to Independence from Bear Creek High School in her junior year after getting pregnant. Washington continued to pursue her education while juggling motherhood and a part-time job at McDonald’s. She credited her son as well as her family and teachers as motivators to keep her going even when she wanted to give up.
“It’s been really hard,” Washington said. “There were times when I wanted to give up. About a month before graduation what changed my mind was everybody telling me I could do it and seeing my baby smile when I put my cap and gown on. Now I know I can go to college and have the life that I want for Demarcus and me.”
Valedictorian Shabana Ahmed addressed her fellow classmates as well as the audience during the ceremony.
“As a group, we did start from the bottom. I can see now the whole team made it,” she said. “I can’t believe that the day has come for us to finally say our good-byes and begin a new chapter in our lives. ”
During the ceremony Adam Paulin was recognized as the class’s salutatorian while Athena Campero and Sunnie Jamieson received art awards, Samone Mouton received the English language arts award, Zoe Martinez received the social science and mathematics awards and Victor Nemecio received the mathematics award.
Eight students were recognized for maintaining honor roll all four years of school. Those recognized included Romana Ahmed, Shabana Ahmed, Cayley Duncan, Malak Hassan, Destiny Jones, Alexis King, Zoe Martinez and Adam Paulin.
Malak and Sharook Hassan were presented with the Alfred C. Platt Scholarship award, Shabana Ahmed was the recipient of the Charlotte Elias Scholarship award and Romana Ahmed was the recipient of the Matilda Alcalay award.
The Job Redi Foundation also awarded $10,000 grants to Malak Hassan, Shorook Hassan and Christine Chavez.
As Muller-Kimball called out the names of the graduates, school counselor Susan Rosales presented the students with their diplomas. The students shook hands with Rosales as they were presented with their diplomas and then paused for pictures.
The graduates were congratulated by Lodi Unified School Board Trustee Bonnie Cassel and board Vice President George Neely on the way to their seats.