Graduates shared the brilliance of the sun last Friday as Malibu High School (MHS) sent off the class of 2014 in perfect Malibu style.
Clad in black and teal robes, 182 seniors beamed with optimism during a ceremony on the MHS Athletic Field, hoping to be the generation that changes the current.
“In spite of murky waters and fierce currents ahead of us, let us not forget one thing. We are Sharks!” said graduating senior Nicholas Ficeto.
Senior Class President Nathaniel Gruendemann said, “Congratulations seniors, we are free!”
Some belted out Steely Dan’s popular hit song “My Old School,” singing “I’m never going back to my old school.” However, the general message from graduates, teachers and parents was for the graduates to do what makes them happy.
This year, MHS had not one, but 13 valedictorians. To be honored as a class valedictorian, a student must have earned straight As from their freshman year forward.
Gruendemann, also a valedictorian, said, “The class of 2014 is one of the most academically competitive classes MHS has ever seen. The Malibu ‘work hard, play hard lifestyle’ works all too well with our class.”
Valedictorian Sophie Peterson, who is attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the fall, said there is no limit on what any person can achieve.
“If you put everything you possibly can into something, you can achieve your dreams.”
Fellow valedictorian Hayley Haag admitted the most valuable lesson she learned came just a few days ago when her teacher told the class to do what you love, not what makes you the most money. Graduate Amber Collins said that money and the school a student attends do not correlate to happiness.
The crowd of approximately 500 students, parents, teachers and community members was also treated to a performance by the school’s winds and strings orchestra, led by longtime Music Director William Bixler, whose retirement coincided with the Class of 2014’s graduation.
He lamented, “This will be an extremely emotional day for me because this is my last concert, and my own son is graduating today as well.”
But his son, Robben, kept things upbeat by joking, “My dad is graduating today too, though it took him 19 years.”
Mayor Skylar Peak, a Malibu High alum, was also among those who spoke. He commended students for not only their intelligence and optimism, but also their caring attitudes.
“This class is a group of extremely remarkable young people,” said Peak, who was joined by fellow Malibu City Council members and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education members.
Another accolade about the character of the class of 2014 came from Malibu High baseball coach and history teacher Ari Jacobs. He believes adversity reveals people’s true colors.
“We had many challenges this year, and I am more proud of my kids than ever. Their good character shined through when they were tested,” Jacobs said.
