Silverado High School graduates celebrated a year of outstanding achievements at the 27th annual commencement ceremony at Hawk Stadium in Victorville.
The Victor Valley Union High School District said that Principal Heather Conkle congratulated the 414 graduates at the celebration on May 21.
Conkle stated that the graduation class was the most decorated senior class in school history, having excelled in both sports and academics.
The Hawks won the school’s first CIF championship in a boy’s team sport when the Silverado football team won the CIF-Southern Section Division 10 title.
They received two renowned Questbridge Scholarships: one for Filiberto Escobedo Cantu, who will attend Columbia University, and the other for Maria Coca, who will attend the University of Chicago.
Coca was this year’s senior class president, and she gave a speech alongside ASB Executive Board President Keilani Landez, Salutatorian Daisy Juarez, and Valedictorian Elina Kim.
Kim, who will attend the University of California, San Diego, gained attention as a freshman after receiving local, regional, and state accolades for her Science Fair Project on microplastics in farm-raised fish.
Cal State Northridge included Kim’s work in their New Journal of Student Research Abstracts.
The ceremony also included a unique surprise for graduate Alonda Keene, who was presented with her diploma by her sister Avion Keene, a United States Army Operations Specialist First Class who is presently deployed in the Middle East and was granted leave to attend the graduation.
Alonda had no idea her sister would be there, so Avion surprised her onstage and presented her with her graduation.
Silverado Hawks soar high at the graduation ceremony in Victorville
