Silverado High School and Cobalt Institute students celebrate graduations in Victorville

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
Updated ·2 min read
Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

The Victor Valley Union High School District celebrated commencement ceremonies for Silverado High School and Cobalt Institute of Math & Science.

Loved ones packed the stands of Victorville's Hawk Stadium as 429 seniors received their diplomas Wednesday night.

Speeches were delivered by Principal Heather Conkle and valedictorian Fabiana Luna, who will attend the University of California, Riverside. Salutatorian Cameron Unkefer, ASB President Wendy Contreras and Class President Carlos Martinez also gave speeches.

Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

This year's senior class boasts the highest GPA in Silverado's history. Additionally, this year's class has the highest number of student-athletes in the top 25% of their class with total GPAs of 3.4 and higher, according to district officials.

Remembering Richard Reed

Silverado High also shared a bittersweet moment as loved ones remembered Silverado senior Richard Reed, a football star who died earlier in the school year, the district said.

Reed’s teammate and friend Fred Hunter carried an extra cap inscribed with Reed’s name and the message “I carry u with me.”

Silverado's Darren Gandy, center, and Fredrick Hunter carry Richard Reed's No. 9 jersey on the field Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Reed, 17, was shot and killed in Victorville on Oct. 30.
Silverado's Darren Gandy, center, and Fredrick Hunter carry Richard Reed's No. 9 jersey on the field Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Reed, 17, was shot and killed in Victorville on Oct. 30.

Teammates also left an empty seat for Reed among the graduates on the field.

Reed, 17, was fatally shot in Victorville on Oct. 30, just two nights after playing in the team’s regular-season finale against Barstow, the Daily Press reported.

Cobalt Institute Graduation 

The Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Class celebrated 160 students graduating on Monday from inside a packed Powell Auditorium at High Desert Church in Victorville

The evening featured speeches by Principal Clarissa McNally, valedictorian Nataly Rezk and Salutatorian Maria Habashy.

Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Loved ones packed the stands of Hawk Stadium in Victorville as 429 Silverado High School seniors received their diplomas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

A student body address was delivered by ASB President Evelyn Ramirez, Class President Jillian Sanderson, and Class Advisor Mandy Oakes.

The tassel ceremony was conducted by Class Vice President Donna Marie Reyes, and a rousing rendition of the National Anthem was sung by Messiah Criner.

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: Silverado High School and Cobalt Institute students graduate