A member of the Merced High Class of 2021 receives a diploma from Associate Principal Marcus Knott, who will become principal of the school later this summer.
An honors student at Golden Valley High School is all smiles as she walks onto the field to join fellow classmates.
Rafael and Socorro Velazquez of Merced watch with pride as their son Jordan graduates from El Capitan High School.
In case you didn’t notice all the fanfare last week — including congratulatory balloons and messages on cars and trucks throughout the region — there were 2,570 students in the Merced Union High School District who graduated in the Class of 2021.
Every traditional high school site in the district featured in-person graduation ceremonies last Thursday, reflecting improving numbers in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that closed schools in 2020. Nevertheless, those same high schools also offered graduating students and their family members a chance to participate in drive-thru ceremonies on the following Friday.
In this week’s County Times, we feature photographs from the big graduations in Merced (see Pages 8-10), along with the names of all the local graduates, and a special Valedictorian Speech (starting on Page B-1).
Congratulations To All Graduates At Merced High School!
Taking place near the front of the Merced High School campus, the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 brought all the Bears together in an area that had not been used for a graduating class in decades.
As the seniors made their way across the stage to receive diplomas, they were cheered on by friends and family members who were able to share a much more intimate experience with them than in prior years.
The proud Bears were given an inspirational send-off to their next stage in life with a standing ovation by the huge crowd of spectators.
Way To Go Golden Valley High School Graduates!
Friends and families filled Veterans Stadium at Golden Valley High School as they watched the Class of 2021 finish off their senior year with an in-person graduation last week. As the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions begin to subside, the Cougars opted to hold an in-person ceremony that allowed family members and loved ones to fill the stadium bleachers, as well as seniors to make their way across the stage as they received their diploma. In addition to listening to their class speakers from the field, those who attended the in-person ceremony were also treated to performances by the Golden Valley High School Jazz Band led by Michael Vasquez.
All The Best To Graduates At El Capitan High School!
