Wherever the 278 members of Sobrato High School’s graduating class of 2014 end up later in life, they shared one last timeless celebration together at their June 6 commencement ceremony.
“Take a pause to take in this moment,” graduate Taylor Chan told her classmates while delivering the ceremony’s senior speech. “Because in this moment, I swear, we are infinite,” she added, paraphrasing a line from the Steven Chobsky novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”
Hundreds of proud parents, relatives and friends crowded Sobrato High School’s athletic field, waving signs and banners in support of the new graduates during the ceremony. Balloons and flowers were scattered throughout the audience, and an occasional air horn or cow bell broke through cheers and whistles as graduates’ names were called by Assistant Principal Kevin Miller at the end of the ceremony.
Morgan Hill Unified School District officials, including the seven trustees, joined Sobrato High Principal Deborah Padilla and other school staff on stage during the celebration.
Padilla urged the class to remember the lessons of community kinship and support for their peers that they learned at Sobrato as they proceed into their adult lives.
“Take our Sobrato Way beyond the high school walls, and not only show pride in yourselves, but also pride in your alma mater and in your community,” Padilla said.
Pride was on display in the audience even before the graduating class made their procession to their prior to the ceremony.
Valerie Farris, mother of Sobrato graduating senior Andrew Wilcox, 17, gushed about her son and his achievements.
“He’s a great baseball player, he has good grades, he’s handsome,” Farris said warmly. “We’re very, very proud of him.”
Wilcox, who his mother said “loves to learn,” will start attending classes at West Valley College later this month. He plans to transfer to a school in the University of California system after a couple years.
The graduate played baseball and football, and tried to start a fishing club during his four years at Sobrato, Farris said. Like many graduates, Wilcox had a crowd of family members in the audience.
Graduate Alejandra Kendrick’s grandparents and cousin traveled to Morgan Hill from Texas to see Friday evening’s graduation ceremony and celebrate for the weekend. Kendrick, 17, was a cheerleader at Sobrato. She plans to attend West Valley College in the fall, and eventually transfer to San Jose State University to study nursing, according to her family members.
“I’m absolutely proud of Alejandra. She’s done really well,” said her father John Kendrick of Morgan Hill. “It’s been beautiful watching her grow up into a mature, intelligent young woman. We as a family are proud of her and will continue to support her.”
Sobrato alumna Daisy Topete, graduate of the school’s inaugural class of 2007, was also in the audience to cheer on her “baby sister” Monica Topete, 17. Monica, an active member of FFA while at Sobrato, plans to study veterinary science in college in the fall.
After the ceremony, excited graduates and their families could barely find words to describe their reactions as they took photographs and shared hugs in a courtyard outside a Sobrato academic building.
Class of 2014 graduate Connor Atwood, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award. He said after spending almost every day for four years with his classmates that it’s “pretty crazy” to think the ceremony marks “the last hour we’re here.”
Atwood also plans to attend West Valley College in the fall.
Graduate Elizabeth Delgadillo, 18, said the graduation ceremony was “surreal.”
“I didn’t expect it to be as emotional as it is. During the speeches, I started to tear up,” Delgadillo said. Specifically, she said the words of keynote speaker and Sobrato English teacher Jamie Simpson, and Valedictorian Michelle Luu—Delgadillo’s best friend—brought back fond memories dating back to freshman year.
Delgadillo, who graduated in the top 10 percent of the class with a Golden State Seal Merit Award, plans to attend Santa Clara University in the fall, where she will study bioengineering. “I want to help improve existing medical technology,” she said.
When asked how she feels now that she is a Sobrato graduate, Jessica Reid, 18, laughed, “I’m free!” Reid, like many of her classmates, clutched a bouquet of flowers and wore a lei of orchids while walking off the campus with her parents and other family members.
Reid plans to attend Sonoma College and study business administration in the fall.
During her four years at Sobrato, Reid said she and her friends learned the importance of supporting one’s community—in this case the Sobrato student body—and “banding together” in good and bad times.
Class of 2014 member Anthony Jackson, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award and plans to begin studying mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University in the fall. He succinctly expressed fond memories and excitement for the future.
“I’ve grown up with these people. I’ve known some of them since elementary school, and it’s great to see everyone do well,” Jackson said of his classmates.
