Patterson High celebrates centennial graduating class

Patterson High School cheered its centennial graduating class with waves to the past interspersed among fist pumps to the future.

“You are part of the 100th graduating class of Patterson High School. Good luck in all your future endeavors and never forget, you are capable of more than you can imagine,” student body President DeOnte West told 323 fellow graduates.

The ceremony Thursday also served to launch the United Patterson Initiative, a citywide extension for adults of the “No Excuses University” program that encourages Patterson elementary kids to plan for college. All of today’s workforce needs to have college or trade school credentials to get ahead, said Patterson Unified Superintendent Phil Alfano.

“We begin this important conversation tonight by asking our grads, and our future grads: What’s your plan? What do you want to do when you grow up, and how can we help you?” he asked, adding, “Everybody needs a plan.”

The ceremony kicked off with the Patterson tradition of seniors of the school choir singing the national anthem.

Valedictorian Dylan Halland and salutatorian Kelly Gonzales wrapped the centennial theme into a joint speech about time – how quickly it passes and how well it might be used.

“And this concept of time is truly bittersweet. Even though we’ve been impatiently waiting for this day for four years, now we just want to hit ‘pause.’ But it’s our responsibility to press ‘play,’” Halland said.

“Fellow graduates, as we all slip off into our individual futures, we must remember to cherish where we came from and our time here,” Gonzales said.

Before the graduates marched across the stage, shaking hands with Alfano and each Patterson Unified trustee, Principal Tonya Bibbins gave them words of wisdom and the official pronouncement of graduation.

“Today is not about the ‘Pomp and Circumstance.’ It’s not about the gown and tassels, or even about the after-parties tonight,” Bibbins said, waiting for the shouts and laughter to subside. “Today is about you, the Class of 2015. It is about your experiences these last four years, the friends you have made, the trials you have overcome and the knowledge that you have gained,” she told the grads.

“A hundred years ago, another class was presented to the world, ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities before them. In their lifetime, they saw, built and created the world we live in today” Bibbins said, noting space exploration and medical cures of that generation.

This generation, she said, will devise technology no one has even dreamed of yet.

“You will be the ones to design the next supercool tech tool. Watch out, Google, Apple – they’re coming!” she said. “You will be the ones to lead the world in solving the next great hazard and to build the dreams of a future yet to be realized.”

Senior class President Daniel Cota said the official farewell.

“No more food court,” he lamented, “And more importantly, no more nacho day.”

Turning serious, he added, “Best of luck to you, because you are in complete control of your life now. It is up to you to make the most of it.”

This story was originally published May 29, 2015 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Patterson High celebrates centennial graduating class."