Laguna Blanca Celebrates Class of 2018

By MITCHELL WHITE, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Laguna Blanca School ushered on to the next phase of life 52 members of the class of 2018 Wednesday evening in a packed Ruston Amphitheatre.

As the graduates made their way to their seats for the school's 84th commencement, they were welcomed to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance" performed by The Festival Brass Quintet.

Senior and Associated Student President Camila Lemere welcomed the graduates and attendees to the ceremony and said it was a surreal moment to be standing in front of her fellow classmates, describing the moment as "infinitely different" than when she was a freshman and her classmates were "much better looking and ready to take on the world ahead."

She shared moments from her time at Laguna and explained that saying goodbye to her fellow graduates was hard because of all the little moments they have shared over the years. She recited the poem "The Orange" by Wendy Cope and reflected on an address given by Spenser Wyatt when he quoted Winnie the Pooh in saying "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

"So now I stand here in my cap and gown, asking myself 'Really, how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so incredibly hard?' -- and the answer is 'very,'" she said.

After Senior Sohpia Bakaev sang the National Anthem, Head of School Rob Hereford was next to address the crowd. He began by recognizing Steve Chan, who had served as the school's Head of Middle School since 2016. Mr. Chan will be leaving his post and serving as Head of Middle School at Viewpoint School in Calabasas.

Mr. Hereford then recognized the winner of the school's faculty excellence award, Anna Alldredge, who was presented the award last week.

Hani Zeini, chair of Laguna's board of trustees, then took to the podium and congratulated the graduates on their huge milestone. He then shared three thoughts with the students -- ability, authenticity, and aspiration. He challenged the graduates to always have the ability to learn and be resourceful, to understand the importance of being who they truly are, and to always think big and live their lives without boundaries or limits.

Senior Tiffany Yabsley gave the student address, and described where the students began, what was next, and then offered a reflection of the many lessons learned over their four years of high school.

"What will be most remembered of the class of 2018 is how we came together from many different backgrounds and meshed into one big family effortlessly," she said. "But there's something else that makes the class of 2018 distinguishable from others -- it's our fluidity. Our friend groups aren't set in stone. They rotate and all somehow fit together. Of all the Laguna classes, and trust me I can think of a few, we have succeeded in becoming mature and nurturing individuals who nevertheless maintain a strong group identity."

Instructor Meghan Roarty gave the school's commencement address and stressed the importance of being present in all of life's important moments.

"I strongly believe that being present for as many moments as you can will make for a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life that we all strive for," she said. "It is the moments in life that become your memories. We need to savor these moments and all the journeys we take so that we can remember and appreciate them."

Ms. Roarty then shared some of the moments she will remember from the class of 2018, from the student's tenth grade trip to Catalina, to their endeavors while juniors at the Colorado River, to the sidelines of the girl's soccer games and practices and teaching AP Psychology.

"As I look around at each of you, I see so many individuals tonight that are remarkable," she said. "When I look at your class as a whole, one of the greatest strengths I see is love. Your class is filled with it and I've seen you use it. I've seen the care and respect you have for your teachers. I have seen and heard about your admiration for your parents, for their guidance, generosity and unconditional love. I have seen you share it with one another with the warmest of smiles as well as the most heartfelt tears of sympathy and compassion. I can honestly say I've never known a class with bigger hearts."

Upper School Principal Dr. Lolli Lucas then presented several awards to the graduates. The character award was given to seniors Clare Ogle and Yunlung "Roth" Yin. The salutatorian for the class of 2018 is Rose Houglet and the valedictorian is Sophia Fay. The senior project award was also presented to Kailea Hieshima.

Faculty members then conducted the reading of senior vignettes for the graduates before Mr. Hereford awarded diplomas to the students.

A reception to honor the class was then held in the senior quad.
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