Seniors to graduates: the class of 2023 walks the stage Sophia Ciokajlo and Josephine Velo

After four years of hard work, the class of 2023’s high school journey has come to an end.

Jiselle Anderson and Ella Adalbert circle the arena as the ceremony begins. Students were put into pairs to walk through the area, met by claps and cheers from onlookers.

As of May 31, the class of 2023 officially can call themselves graduates. The commencement ceremony was held at Wings Event Center, where hundreds of friends and family members gathered to celebrate the long awaited occasion.

Family members and friends take photos to remember the moment. The audience was alive with cheers as each graduate walked the stage.

Dean of Students Stephanie Perry (left), Vice President Jermaine Jackson (middle) and Principal Christopher Aguinaga (right) circle the arena before the students do. They look out at the audience and smile with pride.

The class of 2023 had anything but an ordinary experience with high school. Their freshman year ended abruptly, and they did not reenter the building until the start of their junior year, as mentioned by Principal Aguinaga in his opening remarks. To compensate for the in-person time lost, the class came back ready to make some memories, as student speaker, James Rocco, made sure to highlight in his welcome speech.

“Our class has achieved an immense amount of success during our time at Loy Norrix,” said Rocco, listing the athletic, theatrical and other extra-curricular achievements made possible by the students over the last four years.

Student speaker James Rocco gives the welcome speech. In his time at Norrix, Rocco participated in football, basketball and track.

Following the opening speech was principal Chrisopher Aguinaga, Foster Neve-Jones and Andrea Medina-Hernandez.

On the right, Andrea Medina-Hernandez waves to the audience after her speech.

The ceremony was lively with the school’s band, choir and orchestra all performing at the event.

Riley Sackett plays the clarinet at graduation. This is her last performance with Loy Norrix.

When it finally came time to walk the stage, the class accepted their diplomas with pride.

Foster Neve-Jones delivering his speech at graduation. Neve-Jones was a link leader, member of National Honors Society and a Knight Life web editor.

After handing out diplomas, the senior video was played and Amady Mboup delivered the turning of the tassel speech.

The senior video was then played, giving the audience and graduates a chance to laugh and look back at all of the funny memories that the seniors made over the past school year.

Excited parents film as their children cross the stage.

As the ceremony came to an end, friends and family rushed down to the arena floor to congratulate the new graduates. This moment was bittersweet: parents and grandparents congratulated their children as proud family members hugged their kids, but younger students cried knowing that this could very well be one of the last times they see their senior friends.

Yacine Lo smiles backstage while waiting to line up for graduation. Lo participated in theater during her time at Loy Norrix as well as National Honors Society, Youth in Government and much more.

“Look around graduates. I urge you when the ceremony is over and before Grad Bash to have a simple conversation with someone, someone you might not see again… it will be worth it,” said Rocco. “Take in all the little things of tonight, and don’t let it pass you by.”

Gabriel Lubbers (left) and Hannah Locke (right) have fun posing backstage as they line up to walk the arena. Lubbers and Locke recently competed in the annual Knight Life vs. Yearbook kickball game.

Created By

Josephine Velo

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Credits:

Josephine Velo and Sophia Ciokajlo