Galt High grads storm into future
In a frenzy of celebration, 366 graduates from Galt High School received one last Warriors welcome on the football field Friday night as they received recognition for nearly a lifetime of academic commitment.
Thousands of friends, family and well-wishers could not match the fever pitch of the graduates themselves as they yelled words of congratulations to one another during the diploma ceremony.
Presenters voices screamed in the torrent of support, making each student’s name sound like a personal victory. And for some, the night truly was a victory march.
Senior Carolyn Rice took to the stage three times to receive separate awards for academic excellence and community service.
“For many of us, it’s like we’ve found a missing part of our family,” Rice said of Galt High after being presented with the Salutatorian Award. “There no doubt in my mind we’ll do great things in the future.”
Rice was also recognized with the Citizenship Award and a special certificate of recognition signed by Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi, for having perfect attendance since kindergarten.
Valedictorian Justin Hurst bid a fond farewell to his fellow classmates, leaving them with a few words of advice.
“Take a few minutes to envision yourself where you want to be in five years, then take action and prepare yourself,” Hurst said as the setting sun turned red graduation gowns into a brilliant shade of cardinal.
Galt High Interim Principal Mari Martinez picked up on the theme of determination when she thanked the class of 2005 for nearly single-handedly bringing their school out of an academic abyss by raising its state test scores by a record 71 points.
The school, which was put under academic monitoring by the state last year, accomplished this feat, Martinez said, only because the students chose to embody the Warrior spirit.
“They not only accepted the challenge, they embraced it,” she yelled into the microphone in a triumphant tone.
In a mellower moment, senior choir members Brandon Harper and Kristen Johnson provided the audience with their own acoustic musical selection. The lyrics encapsulated what many of the graduates must have felt at such a momentous occasion.
“Goodbye to you, goodbye to everything I knew,” crooned Johnson to a silent crowd. “You were the one thing I loved, the one thing I tried to hold onto.”
As they sang those last words, the audience gazed up in awe as a blue, star-shaped mylar balloon accidentally broke free from its ribbon and hovered above the singers before making a rapid ascent into the cloudless sky.
Despite feelings of sadness at their imminent departure from one another, the graduates were mostly excited by the ceremony and the prospect of leaving high school.
Vanessa Garibaldi used her wardrobe to express her thanks to the family and friends that got her to this point in her life. Around her neck was a lei of magenta and white flowers.
“This is because of my mom,” she said running her hands over its petals. “It represents her because she’s the most beautiful woman I know.”
She went on to point out a ring she got from a girlfriend, but saved for the occasion, a promise ring to tell her parents that she would remain drug free and a bracelet from her cousin in Las Vegas. From the sunglasses on her head to Cajun shrimp colored nailpolish, Garibaldi had everything planned.
Her mother, Lori Oliver, helped her plan every detail because she said it was important to have everything be just right for the ceremony.
“I’m going to miss her tremendously,” Oliver said afterward, adding that Garibaldi has plans to move on to California State University, Sacramento in the fall. “I cried a lot today. I started, then continued for an hour.”
For other graduates, like Mindi Pugliese and Joelle Seesing, simple accessories like a fragrant lei shipped from Hawaii and a pair of shiny pink patent leather pumps were enough to make the night special.
Adam Demanett and Kevin Perry admitted they were more excited at the prospect of the future than of their wardrobe or the diploma ceremony.
“I’m feeling glad to get out of here,” Demanett said as Perry agreed by giving a quiet thumbs up.
Their favorite part of the night?
“The end,” they said in unison, without a trace of doubt in their voices.
Contact reporter Sara Cardine at sarac@lodinews.com.