By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
While some area high schools are graduating hundreds at a time, small town Lucerne Valley High School saw 50 turn their tassels and say hello to a big, new world of opportunity Friday night.
The Class of 2016 commencement was held in the nearly packed Brian L. Walker Gymnasium on the Lucerne Valley campus.
The speakers’ common theme was how much the students had grown and matured and how the Lucerne Valley High School “family” made a difference.
“Isn’t it interesting how nothing changes until you look back?” said keynote speaker Brandon Barkley, a popular coach and teacher who came to LVHS three years ago. “I know that sitting in front of me right now are doers. I’ve been so lucky to see the students mature and grow. I’ve seen so many ‘ah ha’ moments.”
That was especially true for the girl athletes, who this year won Agape League titles in basketball, softball and volleyball, the latter team was undefeated under their coach, Patricia Courtney. Courtney, who has served as principal for the last five years, is leaving.
“You should all be so proud because you’ve worked so hard to be where you are today,” said Barkley, who was chosen by the Class of 2016 to be the commencement speaker. “Now is the time for you to become the coaches, the teachers, the nutritionists, the athletes you are meant to be.”
Matthew Rodriguez, named the “best overall student” and co-salutatorian, encouraged his fellow graduates to pursue their dreams.
“We write our own stories,” he said. “There is always room to improve ourselves. So make sure you have a lot of paper and a pen to write the next story.”
Rodriguez is planning on attending Cal State San Bernardino and trying out for the school’s baseball team.
Co-valedictorian Georgette Moreno credited her teachers and small school friendliness for making a difference.
“Thanks for pushing us every day to do nothing less than giving our best,” said the Victor Valley College-bound graduate.
Valedictorian Victoria Gilmore eschewed the erudite for a more quotable source: Ferris Bueller.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it,” Gilmore said, quoting from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” “Even though our stories are different it all started here at Lucerne Valley High.”
Gilmore, who plans on studying film at a four-year college, also credited Lucerne Valley teachers for her success.
“Thank you for making this year amazing,” Gilmore said. “Let’s be real, we rock!”
Carmen Fox, vice-president of the Lucerne Valley Unified School District’s governing board, formally accepted the Lucerne Valley Class of 2016. “Pomp and Circumstance” was performed by the LVHS Band and Orchestra and the school’s choir sang the National Anthem.
The 2016 graduating class of Lucerne Valley High School:
Samuel Aguilar, Jacob Ary-Davis, Collin Campbell, Alexis Carlos-Limas, Darien Clark, Ashley Davalos, Chreoyn Davis, Natalie Craddock, Marissa Decker, Jesus Delatorre Muñoz, Megan Evans, Raul Ferrer-Castro, Brittany Figueroa, Omar Flores-Bobadilla, Victoria Gilmore, Rafael Guzman, Colby Hambrick, Joshua Hartwell, Joseph Hernandez-Brown, Christopher Horton, Jacob Kleber, Jordan Kuhlman, Zackary Mejia, Anne Metcalf, Rex Modica, Kimberly Morales, Georgette Moreno, Justin Nichols, Satoshi Ogawa, Dennis “Tadd” Peterson, Noel Portillo Limones, Arleen Quevedo, Ramon Quijada, Alexander Quinones, Cassia Reimann, Matthew Rodriguez, Jenna Romero, Julio Romero Lara, Robert Salazar, Nathaniel Sanchez, Oscar Sanchez Alcazar, James Sausser, Richard Sheehan, Jason Simonek, Destynie Urrutia, Mayra Valenzuela, Vanessa Valenzuela, Sarena Walczyk, Joshua Williams, Kendrick York.