Colton, CA— With the 2022-2023 school year ending, reality came into play as the Seniors graduated last night.

For Senior Vincent De Anda, graduation was nothing but emotions. “I’m so glad that I made the friends that I did and the memories that I did. Now, like, it’s happening. So real, but I’m so excited I have so many emotions. I’m so glad that I went through four years and made it worthwhile.”

Aside from all the emotions the Seniors felt, they also felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. Valedictorian Elijah Rosales was “Honored. I worked really hard to get up to this point; I just feel very proud of myself and I know all my friends and my family are proud of me.”

Before the ceremony began the graduates were given snacks in the Ken Hubbs Gym as they all took pictures with each other.

Even staff like Principal John Abbott took pictures with tons of students, including the baseball team. “I’m excited, I love this,” he said. “This is my favorite day of the year to see you guys achieve everything that you have worked so hard for. I love this day.”

Not only was the ceremony joined by all the CHS staff, but also by the Colton Joint Unified School District’s Board of Trustees and Executive Cabinet.

“I’m excited about graduation,” said school board President Joanne Thoring-Ojeda. “It’s the very beginning of a new life, of a new chapter, and I’m here, I’m going to be speaking to the kids tonight about developing a positive mindset to help them throughout their future.”

The ceremony then kicked off with speeches from Ms. Thoring-Ojeda, Valedictorian Elijah Rosales, and Salutatorian Duke Medina. The last speech was given by Senior Class President Denise Diaz who also presented CHS with their class gift, a medallion installed at the entrance to the Rivera Multi-purpose room.

“The medallion reads ‘Colton High School Class of 2023 Seniors,’ Diaz shared, “ensuring that no student, faculty, or staff in the years to come through our doors will ever forget about the greatest class to ever come through CHS.”

Patt Haro, Israel Fuentes, and Dan Flores were some of the Board of Trustee members that gave out diplomas, they were very excited and gave some advice to the graduates saying “Congratulations on this great accomplishment, become someone, and it only gets better from here it really does.”

It was then time for the real emotional part of the day… when the Seniors walked down the carpet, heard their names being called, saw the flashes of the cameras, and were finally handed the thing they have worked hard for, for twelve years. The diploma.

With fireworks blaring and students chanting at the end of the ceremony, the graduating class of 2023 literally went out with a bang.