California's 130th High School class graduated on Sunday, May 15, with 88 members receiving the diplomas marking them as the Class of 2016.
The afternoon graduation included performances by the California High School Concert Band and the Senior Choir. Accompanied by the processional of "Pomp and Circumstance," each senior member of the class entered the CHS gym for Commencement. After being joined by its senior members, the band, directed by Dustijn Hollon, performed "Achilles Wrath" by Sean O'Loughlin.
The commencement speaker, Katherine J. Imhoff, a member of the graduating class, was introduced by Superintendent Dwight Sanders.
After stating to her fellow graduates and those in attendance, "The choice of success is yours," Imhoff gave some of the answers she had gotten from relatives about what a person should know to go out on their own.
After several good answers, such as "Never compare yourself to someone else," "Know how to take care of your car" and "Pick good friends who will support you no matter what happens," she received really good advice from her mother. That advice was, "Before you leave home, know how to make a good white sauce."
That is good advice, Imhoff observed, because everything starts with something basic. With cooking, that is a good white sauce. Everything and everyone is different.
She said that high school is over, and so are the easy times. Although Winston Churchill was not speaking of graduating from high school, Imhoff said one of his quotes is still appropriate: "This is no time for ease and comfort. It is a time to dare and endure."
Imhoff advised the Class of 2016 to "dare and endure."
The Senior Choir, directed by Michele Bilyeu, followed with a performance of "We Won't Stop Dreaming," by Pinkzebra., directed by Michele Bilyeu.
High School Principal Sean Kirksey presented the Class of 2016, following which School Board President Craig Ash accepted the class and the diplomas were presented by school board members Paul Bloch, Philip Burger, Joe Kirby, Rhonda Meyer, Jay VanDieren and Ash. The class sang "Alma Mater" by Johnson.
In her closing remarks, Class President Sarah Bryant encouraged the Class of 2016 and told the class it was time to switch the tassels to the other side of the caps. As this was done, some of the caps were tossed in the air to applause.
The Concert Band performed the recessional of "Rondo" from "Premiere Suite." The class had 29 members in the National Honor Society.