New Tech High School seniors roll into the future with special drive-through graduation
Central Coast New Tech High School in Nipomo celebrated the achievements of 55 graduating students on Thursday, May 28, in what will for years to come be one of the most unique ceremonies in the school’s history.
Due to coronavirus restrictions that went into effect in March, the Class of 2020 was left without many of the traditional hallmarks of a senior year: no prom, no spring sports, no end-of-year theater productions and no typical graduation ceremony.
But because of the school’s smaller size, its administrators came up with a creative solution to that last problem:
What about a drive-through graduation ceremony?
The high school, now celebrating its fifth graduating class, held graduation on its campus, which abuts Nipomo High School.
Graduates rode (and sometimes drove themselves) onto the high school’s quad in balloon-, streamer- and paint-bedecked cars one at a time, before strolling across stage to grab their diplomas and move their graduation cap tassel from right to left.
Meanwhile, creative families brought a slew of celebratory accessories to salute their students, from confetti cannons and bubbles to one person’s innovate use of a large gong to make noise while their graduate walked across the makeshift stage. New Tech teachers also huddled nearby under a shade structure, sitting in lawn chairs and loudly cheering for every student who arrived.
After three hours, the school campus was littered with confetti and all 55 students had taken their first steps as graduates.
The ceremony was the first of the series of adjusted ceremonies for graduates across San Luis Obispo County.
Class of 2020 achievements
Though their year was cut short, New Tech’s seniors were not without their achievements.
Belle Quaresma was this year’s New Tech valedictorian with a 4.21 GPA. Harrison Winikoff was salutatorian with a 4.19 GPA.
Of the 55 graduating seniors, 24 New Tech grads are going on to four-year universities and 27 will attend a local community college.
According to Principal Sarah Butler, many of New Tech’s seniors are graduating with college credits already under their belt. One student, Emily Edds, has already received her associate’s degree from Allan Hancock College.
In all, New Tech grads received more than $33,500 worth of scholarships for their future goals, with 16 receiving some kind of financial award.
Principal Sarah Butler said she and the rest of New Tech’s staff were proud of the contribution’s this year’s Class of 2020 has made toward the campus culture.
“The CCNTH graduating Class of 2020 has been an integral part in building our strong inclusive culture, developing deep friendships, celebrating diversity and creating lasting memories,” Butler said in a statement to The Tribune. “Their resilience and togetherness through this uncertain time has been inspiring. Our hope is that they take all of the community they’ve built here at CCNTH and continue to build community wherever their life journey takes them.”
“We are so very proud of all of them,” she added.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 6:39 PM.
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