Graduation isn’t just for the seniors – it’s a celebration for the entire school!

The day may have been overcast, but the mood was quite festive at Santa Barbara Woman’s Club on June 10^th.  Anacapa’s Class of 2011, along with family, friends, and schoolmates, gathered outside on the patio for an hour for some delicious appetizers and congratulatory hugs.  Then everyone moved inside for the All-School award ceremony and the speeches from the eleven graduates.  Suzie Sichi, the Head of Faculty, was the Mistress of Ceremonies, and Gordon Sichi, Headmaster, warmed up the crowd with a positive overview of the year.  “We’ve had a stunningly successful school year,” he said, listing off a number of accomplishments and activities that have occurred this year.  David Gore, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, gave a speech in which he relayed that the school is very solid financially, despite how difficult the past three years have been economically, and he was optimistic about the school’s fiscal future.

At Ancapa, the commencement ceremony isn’t just for the graduating seniors but for the whole school.  Rockwood’s auditorium was packed with Anacapa families and friends, waiting to hear if their student would earn a spot on the honor roll or another special award.  First the awards for Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude Honor Roll were announced, and throngs of smiling students graced the stage.  Then Academic Achievement Awards were given by teachers to a student in each of their classes.  Other special award winners included Patrick Alcerro, Brenda Gutierrez, and Aubrey Cazabat (Jessica Bower Volunteer of the Year Awards); Poppy Tuomi and Melissa Erickson (Parent Outstanding Service Awards); and Joshua Figueroa, Connor Proctor, Molly Snyder, and Libby Tuomi (Spirit of Anacapa Awards).  Joshua, Connor, and Molly also received the “Seniors with Seniority” status, as they had all attended Anacapa from grades 7-12.  Gordon also recognized the members of ANSEC (Anacapa Near Space Exploration Club), who had a successful near-space balloon launch last month.  Julio Bernal, Aubrey Cazabat, Chris Eckert, and Connor Proctor, along with their teacher adviser, Levi Maaia, were honored for this momentous achievement.

While the seniors put on their caps and gowns upstairs, the audience was treated to a slideshow of the just completed All-School trip to San Francisco, and another slideshow with pictures of the graduating seniors throughout their lives so far.  Then, to the lively music of “What I Like About You” by the Romantics, the eleven members of the Class of 2011 danced their way onto the stage to receive their diplomas and give their speeches.  There were moments of laughter, memories from the school year, and many happy tears.  The ceremony was an emotional and poignant finale for the graduates, and everyone in the audience and on stage seemed to be having a wonderful time.  Some key quotes from the seniors include:

	“To my teachers – what you’ve given me goes beyond traditional learning.” – Aubrey Cazabat
	“Without a doubt, Anacapa was the greatest random plot twist of my life.” – Alyssa Gregory
	“When I look back, I’ll always look back with a smile.” – Libby Tuomi
	“Anacapa…taught me how to go out and challenge the world, and I’m going to keep challenging it.” – Michelle Macias
	“Anacapa’s been more than a school to me; it’s been a family.” – Wishiah Roper
	“I’ve only been here for one and a half years.  It is honestly inspiring to me how much I’ve gotten out of the school in that time.” – Caitlin Mackie-Burke
	“They [students from other schools] call it a little house, but we call it home.  Even though our school is small, it is very mighty.” – Brenda Renteria
	“The people I have met here are truly remarkable and unique.” – Dylan Trujillo
	“I treasure every moment that this beautiful place and these beautiful people have given to me.” – Molly Snyder
	“I’d like to wish luck to all the seniors next year, and in the future – Go Islanders and Go Bruins!” – Connor Proctor (Anacapa’s mascot is the Islander, and Connor is headed to UCLA next year!)
	“To grow up with people like you [the faculty] watching over us, teaching us to be more than just excellent students, but exceptional people – I can never thank you enough.” – Joshua Figueroa

We wish these newly graduated young adults all the best in their years outside of Anacapa!  The school will miss them tremendously, but we know the juniors will be able to step up and fill their shoes next year.

Congratulations, Class of 2011!

See an article in the Santa Barbara News-Press about the ceremony here.

More photos available on Facebook.