JUNE 6 – JUNE 19, 2023
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SANTA YNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM
SYHS's Class of 2023, 170 strong, turns the tassels Speakers talk of fear, perspective, and the future
INSIDE
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
O
n the first evening of June, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School's newly renamed Rio Memorial Field had a different look: A large stage with a "2023" sign in lights and video boards on either side of it, not to mention '80s rock music blaring from the portable speakers facing the stands. The appearance took on the air of an imminent rock concert. However on this evening, the "rock stars" would be the 170 SYHS seniors who would graduate in the school's 2023 Commencement ceremony. In front of an enthusiastic crowd of family and friends, the senior class heard addresses from three of their fellow students, Principal Michael Niehoff (who last month announced he would not be returning next year), and Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year Gregory Wolf, who would later play a rendition of Pink `Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," for the crowd. The soon-to-be graduates filed out of the SYHS gym toward the stagefront seats to the tune of the
New Santa Ynez High graduate Alondra Guerra does a little dance coming down from the stage after getting her diploma.
Santa Ynez High graduating senior Elle Arvesen addresses her fellow students at the SYHS Commencement on June 1.
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Graduate Ada Degollado (right) is shown with her brother, Noe Degollado, who came up from San Diego to surprise Ada at the ceremony.
traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" at around 7 p.m., a later start for the ceremony than in previous years. After everyone was seated, Rye Winans came up to the stage and led everyone in the Pledge of
Santa Ynez High graduating senior Nathaniel Keating was one of three student speakers at the school's Commencement. Photos by Mike Chaldu
Allegiance, which was followed by the national anthem, sung by Opal Ray. After a welcome address from seniors Natalia Contreras (in English) and Ada Degollado (in Spanish), Niehoff announced
two special recognitions. The first was that a seat that was set aside by the Class of 2023 for Connor Graciano, whose death as a ninth-grader kept him from being in the Class of 2023. The CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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