Middle College High sets record with 23 graduates

Middle College Principal Jeff Thompson hands out diplomas June 1 during the school’s graduation ceremony at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. (Mary Min Vincent/News-Sentinel)

By Julie Z. Giese
News-Sentinel staff writer

Middle College High School bid farewell to its largest graduating class thus far at Saturday’s commencement, with 23 seniors earning diplomas.

The alternative program, which began two years ago, is a collaboration between Lodi Unified School District and San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

Through the program, students attend high school and college classes, earning credits to apply toward a college degree.

Saturday’s graduation, at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi, drew more than 350 family and friends to cheer on the graduates who wore silver caps and gowns.

Many of the seniors had formed close relationships with school staff and teachers at the small school — ties difficult to foster at larger high schools, valedictorian Lori Marmolejo said.

Marmolejo said she’ll cherish the memories from Middle College as she moves on to the next chapter of her life.

Principal Jeff Thompson reflected on the past school year, saying the school became united in the wake of last September’s terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

Thompson said the students excelled at new challenges, including asking seniors present their senior projects before the entire 120-student school and community members.

He encouraged the seniors to continue the success in their future endeavors. “Be strong and pursue your dreams for the good of humanity,” he said.

Jason Winslow, 18, intends to do just that. He looks to graduation as a new beginning.

“I’m just glad it’s over. I’m going to go home and sleeping. I plan to wake up when I’m 20,” Winslow said jokingly.

Winslow actually will have only about two weeks to rest, then he’s off to a San Francisco art school where he’ll spend the summer studying.

He hopes to publish a graphic novel which will earn him enough to retire, he said.

Some graduates, including Sovanna Sear, 18, were simply relieved to achieve the milestone.

“I’m just very happy that I made it, especially through senior project,” she said.

Sear said she terrified of speaking in front of the entire school, which was part of the comprehensive research project. “But I overcame my fear of speaking,” she said.

She plans to finish her general education at Delta and transfer to a college to study political science or sociology.

“I really liked Middle College. I’m going to miss it,” she said.