CHICO — With a bonus graduate of sorts, over 500 seniors graduated from Chico High during its annual commencement ceremony on Friday night.
Principal Doug Williams gave his final commencement speech as principal. July 1, he will begin a new position as the superintendent of Oroville Union High School District.
Science teacher Lukas Kennedy gave a speech honoring Williams and said this would be Williams’ second time graduating from Chico High School, his alma mater.
“I’ve felt fortunate to work for you and feel more fortunate to call you a friend,” Kennedy said.
Staff and students filtered through the field of Panther Stadium taking their seats as the school’s band played “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Pomp and Circumstance,” followed by the choir’s performance of the national anthem. Supporters cheered from the stands, many holding colorful bouquets of flowers and shiny balloons.
In one part of the ceremony, ASB/Activities director Kathyleen Bishop led an activity called “Popcorn” asking students to stand if they fit the descriptions she read out.
“Took an AP class … Received a dress code violation … Should have received a dress code violation,” Bishop asked the graduating class.
Students cheered and laughed as they stood up, and sat down.
Senior speakers
Three seniors — Franchesca Cortez, Zadok Panunto and Dayanara Guzman — gave speeches highlighting different aspects of the high school experience and hope for their futures.
In her speech, Cortez highlighted what it’s like to be a first-generation graduate, and the diversity of Chico High.
“Every person you see, like, look around, they’re gonna look different here,” Cortez said in a pre-graduation interview. “And, we’re all united by our time here at Chico High, like whether we look like each other or not.”
Cortez is following in her older sister’s footsteps and will be attending Chico State. Though she isn’t certain about her major, she is leaning toward business.
“I’m just ready for a bigger school, bigger things,” she said.
Guzman titled her speech in Spanish, “Hoy por ti, mañana por mi” — meaning “Today for you, tomorrow for me” in English.
“I just felt like it’s very important for everyone to embrace their culture and especially like their native tongue,” Guzman said about her speech before delivering it.
During her speech, Guzman transitioned between English and Spanish and wiped away few tears as she expressed a deep sense of pride in her culture and her achievements.
“My mom was not able to finish high school, but I will be doing this for her and my family,” Guzman said. “From generations of migrant workers, to us being able to seek that higher education, I remember the sacrifices of the people who came before me.”
Like Cortez, Guzman is a first-generation student. This fall, Guzman is headed to Channel Islands State University (Oxnard) to study nursing.
Panunto gave a speech titled “Crossroads” emphasizing the importance of appreciating every moment: past, present and future. He is headed to UC Santa Cruz to major in environmental studies.
“I’m super pumped,” Panunto said before giving his speech. “I can’t wait — the campus is beautiful, the location, the weather…”
Memories
Panunto’s favorite high school memory is from 2023 when Chico High beat Pleasant Valley High School in the Almond Bowl, 35-0. The win was extra meaningful after Chico High suffered multiple losses to Pleasant Valley in the past three years.
“It was just so much fun to be there and finally win,” Panunto said.
Guzman’s favorite memory is also sports related. She played field hockey for three years and said the pre-game chants were the best part.
“I would always get pumped up,” Guzman said.
For Cortez, her favorite memory is more broad and encompasses the whole of senior year, which is when she says she really began to come out of her shell.
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“It’s crazy to see how far like I’ve grown … I feel like senior year is when I really started to do stuff, and like even doing a graduation speech, when usually I’m known to just be quiet,” Cortez said.
Outside of these three graduates, seniors are headed off to variety of schools. Chico High shared the names of some of the schools students plan to attend at the school’s senior awards night in May. Many will continue their studies locally at Butte College or Chico State. Some will go to a variety of universities throughout California from UC Davis to UCLA. Beyond California, student Jasper Nikolai plans to attend the University of Chicago, and student Elizabeth Oberle plans to attend Kansas State University.
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