The 765 members of Pioneer Valley High School remain poised for greatness, Principal Shanda Herrera said. 

The seniors, sporting black or teal caps and gowns, make up the 17th graduating class for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s newest high school. 

“You are a class that will be remembered for your accomplishments and that you have performed well,” she added.

Near the start of the ceremony, the principal continued her tradition of granting graduates 30 seconds to have “a moment of crazy” to wave at family and friends sitting and standing on both sides of the stadium, an offer happily accepted by the class.

This year’s class has members born in 12 countries and have more than 15 languages spoken at home, Herrera said.

“Our school and our district recognizes your diversity as a strength and your bilingualism is a badge of honor and pride,” Herrera said. 

The number of academic, athletic and other honors earned by the graduates make them “a well-decorated class,” she added.

They have received more than $546,000 in scholarship funds, she added. They also have performed thousands of hours of community service. 

“And you have learned that it is by doing and giving that you become a part of something greater,” she added. 

Before students began receiving their diploma covers, the principal recited the names of three class members in memoriam.

During the afternoon ceremony under most sunny skies, Bryan Guillen Yanez provided a salute to the parents while Eden Garcia and Destiny Ruiz gave speeches as co-salutatorians. 

Kassandra Padilla provided the valedictorian address, while Kendall Courtright, Associated Student Body president, delivered the student council farewell address.

“If there’s anything I want you to take away from this speech, it’s to prioritize yourself and take initiative to accomplish your ambitions,” said Padilla, who will study civil engineering at UCLA.

Other classmates recognized class of 2023 advisor Sandra Sylvester and presented two gifts to the campus. One will be a black-and-teal custom wall graphic featuring the school’s panther mascot.

The second will be flags representing countries where the graduates were born. The display will hang from the vaulted ceiling in the administration building and gain new flags as appropriate in the future.