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After their first school year back in the classroom full-time since 2019, Menlo-Atherton High School seniors walked the stage to accept their diplomas on Friday, June 3, at Coach Parks Field.
This was the first typical graduation ceremony since pre-pandemic days. Per San Mateo County public health regulations, the Atherton school’s 2021 commencement was kept shorter, with fewer speeches than in years past. The school hosted a car parade-style graduation in 2020 amid the early days of the pandemic.
Principal Karl Losekoot opened his speech to the class of 533 students with a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last week, followed by a reflection on how the pandemic has affected the Class of 2022.
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SLIDESHOW: Graduate Lillian Cheatham receives her diploma during commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Graduates walk onto Coach Parks Field for Menlo-Atherton High School’s 71st annual commencement ceremony on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Graduate Alejandra Lombera gives a speech during commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Students toss their caps at the end of commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova.
“You have done more than just graduate high school,” said Losekoot, speaking at his first graduation as the school’s leader. “You have experienced distance learning, the loss of social connections, contact with teachers, the loss of sports and school activities. You learned how to do school from your bedroom. … We all know that while we did the best we could, distance learning did not work.”
He noted that the class, which he called as “super graduates” for their challenges and triumphs, is also living through social change. He apologized graduates live in a world that experiences so much gun violence and “routinely manifests racist ideas.”
Student speeches came from Alejandra Lombera on “Todo A Su Tiempo.” Devin Leslie gave a speech called “Little Did I Know.” Douglas Adams spoke on “Lessons From Struggle.”
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SLIDESHOW: Graduate Christina Dawa Sama wears a crown made of dollars after commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: A graduate takes a photo with family after commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Joshua Christopher Vasquez’s family hold a poster in support of the graduate during commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Graduates meet with family and friends after commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: A bouquet of money and flowers at Menlo-Atherton School’s graduation in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Students toss their caps at the end of commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova. -
SLIDESHOW: Crowds cheer for the graduates during commencement at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton on June 3, 2022. Photo by Natalia Nazarova.
Seniors gathered for a picnic on Tuesday, May 31, and celebrated grad night on Friday. Per usual, the grad night location was a surprise to graduates.
The ceremony was also livestreamed on YouTube this year.
View the full list of graduates here.
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