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Lodi Academy students finish high school with a bang

By News-Sentinel staff

The 36 members of Lodi Academy’s Class of 2001 finished their high school days with a colorful and animated graduation Sunday.

Students decorated their black robes with a variety of original items symbolizing their personalities.

Lodi Academy grads celebrate. (Click on the photo to view a larger version.)

Everyone wore different colored floral leis and each had a distinguishable cord, either black and gold, white or silver, depending on his or her class standing. Some wore gold pins to signify their sports triumphs.

Pastor Jonathan Henderson gave the commencement address.

Introduced by class President Tausha Haining, Henderson told graduates they have reached a “new beginning.”

“There will be decisions to make,” he said. “You have been given the freedom of choice to accomplish everything you dreamed of. Make the right choices right now.

As the graduates started to walk under the gold, black and white balloon arch into the decorated gymnasium full of friends and family members, cheers filled and echoed.

With a quote by 19th century American author Henry David Thoreau — “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined” — the graduates will disperse to follow their dreams.

Graduate Philip Cheng is on his way to the University of California, Riverside. An aspiring pediatric neurologist, his major is biomedical science.

A sports psychology major, Ashlie Williams, said she will miss her friends and sports tournaments but is looking forward to college in Riverside.

Lauren Gamblin is going to Monterey Bay State. Her goal is to become a marine biologist.

Lodi Academy Principal Samir Berbawy said he is proud of all of the graduating students .

Graduates Valeri Cacho and Lovelyn Sampayan performed a piano duet by Franz Liszt, “Hungarian Rhapsody,”

Tara Hartwick sang “I Will Remember You,” by Sarah McLachlan, in a vocal solo, to her class before Berbawy presented awards and handed out diplomas.

To congratulate the Class of 2001, friends and family threw confetti, glitter and silly string.

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