Seniors turn tassels during Serrano High School commencement ceremony

Serrano High School seniors turned tassels during the school's annual commencement ceremony on Thursday.

After the tassel-turning ceremony, cannons shot confetti over nearly 400 graduates.

The ceremony began with teachers and district administrators flanking the seniors and applauding them as they walked onto the grass field in Phelan.

Many of the graduates wore stoles and cords representing academic achievements and honors, or who have participated in groups or clubs.

Battling the wind, Sierra Collier led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The singing of the National Anthem was conducted by senior members of the Serrano Choir.

Committed diamondback students

Principal Lisa Hansen welcomed the audience to the ceremony, which included nearly 140 seniors graduating with honors.

Hansen told the audience she was honored to be participating in the commencement ceremony during her first year as principal and “in front of a most incredible senior class.”

After turning around and taking two selfies with the seated seniors, Hansen explained how they had developed academically during their journey that started in kindergarten.

“Here they are after completing four years of high school,” Hansen said. “It has been a whirlwind of activity filled with academic achievement, extracurricular pursuits and personal growth.”

Hansen recognized seniors wearing gold caps and gowns with blue stoles, who were high honor graduates, and who achieved a GPA of 4.0 or higher and completed college entrance requirements.

Additionally, honor graduates who wore blue caps and gowns with a gold stole, which symbolized achieving a GPA between 3.5. and 3.99.

Hansen also acknowledged graduates who planned to enlist in the military and others who met certain academic standards, served at the school or in the community and completed several projects.

“We applaud all of you who have shown that you are diamondbacks committed to your education, your school and your community,” Hansen said. “These seniors, as their senior saying goes ‘May not have been here for a long time, but they were here for a good time’ and embraced everything about Serrano.”

‘Time for the real world’

DiGiorigo told the audience that as children many didn’t comprehend how shielded and protected they were from the realities of life.

“Us students have everyone in the stands to thank for that protection,” DiGiorigo said.

She also recalled special memories with teachers and classmates, also beach trips with friends and “many, many, many, many years of volleyball.”

Her important memories were camping trips to Yosemite National Park, a hike at Zion Canyon Narrows and campfires with her amazing family, DiGiorigo said.

“These memories bring me to my point that the world is in need of young, strong people who are willing to go out and explore,” said DiGiorigo, who added that humanity needs voices, leaders and ideas, and people who can solve global issues.

“Go out and live, go and thrive, and love and create,” DiGiorigo said. “Make memories because before you blink, it’ll be over and that’s the beauty of living. Congratulations class of 2023, time for the real world.”

‘Find joy in the journey'

Gage, whose 4.70 GPA was the highest in the class, will begin a 2-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his service, he will attend Brigham Young University, where he plans to study biochemistry with the goal of attending dental school.

Gage called high school one of the most significant parts of life, which oftentimes “makes or breaks” a person.

He admitted that he thought his high school years would never end, but now wishes he could go back in time to tell a 14-year-old version of himself to “make every second count.”

Gage shared a few memories, including winning the CIF league baseball title in 2022, pregame basketball rituals and attending Friday night football games.

While playing baseball, the team adopted the motto of “so what,” which meant that experiencing disappointment and failure was a “natural part of life,” a philosophy meant to be carried into the future.

He also shared how their high school years were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March 2020 and temporarily shuttered schools across the nation.

“That entire experience tested us. Our daily schedule was replaced by sitting at home,” said Gage, who shared how the experience taught him the importance of life.

He thanked his family, teammates and friends for their support. Also for the “hard-working” teachers and staff for preparing graduates and himself for the real world.

“Find joy in the journey, not just the final destiny,” Gage said.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Nearly 400 seniors graduate from Serrano High School in Phelan