Mortarboards fly into the air Wednesday at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta as the Class of 2019 celebration graduation. Commencement ceremonies also were held by Santa Barbara and San Marcos high schools. 
Members of the San Marcos High School Class of 2019 march onto the field for graduation Wednesday evening. 
Members of the San Marcos High School Class of 2019 march onto the field for graduation Wednesday evening. 
A graduate receives a hug after receiving her diploma at Dos Pueblos High School. 
Santa Barbara High School’s Class of 2019 held graduation ceremonies Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Bowl. 
Members of Santa Barbara High School’s Class of 2019 are all smiles Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Bowl. 
Santa Barbara High senior class president Andrea Gonzalez giving commencement address. 
Members of the San Marcos High School Class of 2019 at graduation Wednesday evening. 
Dos Pueblos graduating senior’s future is so bright, he had to wear shades. 
Graduation celebration at San Marcos High. 
Members of the Dos Pueblos High School Class of 2019 march onto the field for graduation Wednesday. 
ASB volunteers carrying school seal donated to Santa Barbara High School by Class of 1975. 
Margarito ‘Mugs Delgadillo, Class of 1949 — one of four veterans receiving his delayed diploma at Santa Barbara High. 
Dos Pueblos ASB President Sunny Graybill gives a commencement speech. 
A graduate receives a diploma at Dos Pueblos High. 
The Santa Barbara Bowl was filled with Santa Barbara High graduates, their famlies and friends.
It was graduation day Wednesday at three high schools — Santa Barbara, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos — in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, with some 1,350 seniors receiving diplomas.
A sea of red and blue filled Warkentin Stadium as members of San Marcos High School’s Class of 2019 bid farewell to their high school days.
Seated in chairs on the synthetic turf field with mortarboards atop their heads, it was a gathering that acknowledges their academic and community accomplishments, reflects on the four-year journey at San Marcos, and celebrates their long-awaited high school diplomas.
San Marcos sent off a total of 484 graduates at the ceremony, according to the school district.
In contrast, Scott O’Leary Stadium at Dos Pueblos High School was filled with blue and gold as more than 450 Chargers became graduates.
Santa Barbara High School's commencement ceremony occurred at the Santa Barbara Bowl, the venue for this year's ceremony because the campus’ Peabody Stadium is undergoing major renovations.
The Dons sent 415 students across the stage to receive their diplomas.
At each venue, proud relatives, faculty, friends and other supporters sat in the stands, snapped pictures and cheered.
On the stage at San Marcos, Santa Barbara Unified School District officials were among those seated, including Shawn Carey, assistant superintendent of secondary education; Board of Education members Laura Capps and Rose Munoz; and Henry Alvarado, a San Marcos alumnus.
The event at San Marcos kicked off with a welcome in both Spanish and English from Interim Principal Richard Rundhaug, who wrapped up his year at the campus at 4750 Hollister Ave.
Rundhaug reflected on his time at San Marcos and shared a trove of knowledge and several personal stories.
“I love my job — did you know that, graduates?” Rundhaug said. “This last year, I got to have the time of my life with the greatest students ever — give yourselves a hand.
“I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed my work throughout the years, but again, one of the most amazing things I’ve done is having the honor of being your principal,” he continued.
“Thank you Royals for one of the most incredible years of my life.”
Alexandra Guadagno was one of the two senior speakers.
Guadagno congratulated her peers on their list of academic successes, and she recognized how big of a milestone high school graduation is for the young students.
She feels proud to graduate with her peers, and wants the senior class to “have pride in each other” and the people they have become.
“I am thankful that even for a small period of time, our paths have crossed,” Guadagno said. “I'm thankful that people like you have begun to blossom and will soon embark to improve our world in so many meaningful ways.”
Alicia Pina Duarte delivered the final commencement speech in front of her classmates and people in the stands.
Speaking in both English and Spanish, she mentioned participating and gaining important skills, including public speaking and working collaboratively, as a member of the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and the San Marcos Health Careers Academy.
She acknowledged the adults who have positively influenced her decisions.
“When we arrived as freshman at San Marcos, we didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “We had to transition to the block schedule and a new environment.”
Commencement wrapped up with the Class of 2019 turning the tassels on their caps to mark their new status as San Marcos graduates.
Principal Bill Woodard welcomed the graduates, their families and friends to Dos Pueblos' commencement ceremony, and urged the departing students to be the best versions of themselves going forward.
Student speakers included ASB President Sunny Graybill, Blythe Hastings and Michael Diaz.
Diplomas were handed out by assistant superintendents John Becchio, Meg Jette, and Frann Wageneck, and Anne Roundy-Harter, director of secondary education.
School board member Jacqueline Reid was on hand to accept the Class of 2019.
Principal Elise Simmons and Carter Tran, Associated Student body president, welcomed the crowd to Santa Barbara High's commencement at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
On hand for the celebration were district Superintendent Cary Matsuoka; Assistant Superintendent Raul Ramirez; Sierra Loughridge, director of elementary education; and school board members Kate Ford and Wendy Sims-Moten.
Commencement addresses were given by Andrea Gonzalez, senior class president, Jennifer Quito Alvarez and Elvis Pagano.
Teacher Linnea Mendoza made a special presentation for Jack Cantin, a SBHS student who died in the Jan. 9, 2018, debris flows in Montecito.
Tuesday was the special day for 78 Alta Vista Alternative High School, La Cuesta Continuation High School. The commencement ceremony took place at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens in downtown Santa Barbara.
Noozhawk Executive Editor Tom Bolton contributed to this report.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
