Ukiah High graduation moves to Friday night in ‘student-driven’ change
For the first time in decades, the Ukiah High commencement ceremonies were held Friday evening instead of Saturday morning, a change that school officials said the graduating seniors had wanted to make happen last year. "This change was student-driven…
For the first time in decades, the Ukiah High commencement ceremonies were held Friday evening instead of Saturday morning, a change that school officials said the graduating seniors had wanted to make happen last year.
"This change was student-driven and student-requested," said Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent Deb Kubin, explaining that the students were primarily concerned about the heat endured by family members as they sit in the metal bleachers, directly under the blazing heat of the sun.
A secondary reason was that most other schools hold their ceremonies at the evening, and the students liked the atmosphere of evening ceremonies.
"The high school is beautiful, with the setting sun," said Kubin, who said she attended middle school promotion ceremonies held at Ukiah High earlier in the week, and was "super excited for the graduation ceremonies to be held Friday night."
Distinguished graduate Daniel Vilotti, class of 1971, told the graduates that "life is a series of choices, try to make more wise choices than bad ones." Justine Frederiksen -- Ukiah Daily Journal
Kubin said she was also impressed that the students followed through and achieved their goal, as she said it "is a very important skill to learn" how to navigate the formal procedures such as district policies, and the informal procedures, such as personalities and resistance to change.
Not everyone was happy about moving the ceremonies, Kubin admitted, describing some as pointing out that Friday evening will make it harder for family members from out of town to attend, as they might not be able to leave work early enough to make the ceremony.
"But I am proud of this class, they are great young people," said Kubin, whose daughter Sydney Kubin was ASB President. During her speech, graduate Kubin described her mother as her role model, who taught "me how to work hard, which I've applied to every aspect of my life: school, work, friends and college."
To thank all the other family members who supported and guided them, the entire graduating class then stood and gave their loved ones in the bleachers a standing ovation.
Distinguished graduate Daniel Vilotti, class of 1971, then addressed the hundreds gathered at his former school, noting that while he remembered his graduation ceremony was held at Anton Stadium, "to be perfectly honest, I don't remember a single thing that was said by any of the speakers. But I do remember that brevity was important, so I will make this brief."
Vilotti first urged the graduates to pause and feel proud of their accomplishment, then to make sure they "spend some time in the classroom of silence -- get off your device. And while you're there, discern the most pressing questions in your life. Then go find answers, and seek the objective truth. Focus on what you truly need, instead of on what you want. Because if you have everything you need, then you will be truly happy. So seek what you need, and appreciate what you have. It's OK to want, but don't make that your focus."
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