Riverbank Unified School District held its graduation exercises for students attending Adelante High School on Thursday, May 29, in the Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium on the RHS campus.
On the RUSD website, AHS Principal Ezequiel Ruiz describes his school as providing “an alternative educational setting for students who struggle in traditional educational programs.”
District Superintendent Dr. Constantino Agular, Principal Ruiz, office and classroom staff and school board members all participated in the ceremony, which began promptly at 5:30 p.m.
“Our mission is to make graduation possible for students who would not graduate or would drop out under the traditional school system. At Adelante, we believe education is vital to our students’ future success,” information on the website adds. “To that end, we are committed to providing our students every opportunity to succeed through smaller class sizes, more frequent interactions with their teachers and peers, strong academic counseling, and personal counseling through our school counselor, and school psychologist, when appropriate.”
A total of 22 seniors were listed in the program, and 19 of them were present to receive their diplomas.
After the processional, Principal Ruiz welcomed the crowd of family and friends attending. Salutatorian Jocelyn Faith Seitz led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the National Anthem, Ruiz introduced Seitz and Valedictorian Kueiry Jasmin Portillo, who spoke, reviewing the effort students need to help them accomplish their graduation goal.
Adelante teacher Fred Wood then spoke, reminding the students, among other things, that that same effort likely might be necessary in their future lives.
After diplomas were given out by staff and members of the school board, Principal Ruiz presented the Class of 2025, following which Superintendent Aguilar accepted the graduates. Seitz returned to the podium, leading her class in moving their tassels from one side of their caps to the other to signify the competition of the high school career.
That was followed by the recessional, then the class gathered across the gym, in front of a graduation sign, to join in tossing their caps in the air in celebration.
Family and friends then joined them to take photos.
