Atascadero, Coast Union celebrate 2026 high school graduates. See the photos
Hundreds of caps and gowns were donned this week as San Luis Obispo County students officially stepped out of high school and into their futures.
Atascadero High School and Coast Union High School both celebrated their commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, accompanying a slew of alternative education graduations around the county.
The ceremonies mark another cohort of students off to attend universities, community colleges and other career training opportunities.
Atascadero celebrates Class of 2026 grads
Atascadero High School’s 296 graduates proudly walked across the stage to officially accept their diplomas Wednesday night.
The ceremony celebrated notable graduates including valedictorian Samantha Coloma and salutatorian Lucas Vance. Coloma departed high school with a 4.65 GPA, and Vance with a 4.6, according to principal Nikki Baca.
Both students will leave SLO County to attend UCLA in the fall, Baca told The Tribune in an email.
Baca also shouted out graduate Jaycee Salas, who was recently elected as the new California State FFA president — the first in Atascadero High School’s history.
This year’s graduates obtained over $366,000 worth of scholarships, which will aid students in pursuing college, career training and the military, Baca said.
“Atascadero High School extends heartfelt congratulations to the entire Class of 2026 for their accomplishments and contributions to our campus community,” she added. “We are proud of all you have achieved and look forward to seeing the impact you will make in the world beyond AHS.”
Coast Union celebrates senior commencement
The red-and-gold bedecked Coast Union High School’s entire 2026 class of 36 seniors moved their tassels to the right Wednesday afternoon and are officially graduates now, as proudly proclaimed by banners that fluttered in the wind along Cambria’s Main Street.
At the ceremony in the school’s gymnasium, valedictorian Anna Schalk welcomed her fellow grads, their families, friends and teachers.
With a weighted GPA of 4.6, she’s enrolled to study premed and neuroscience at UCLA, according to Coast Principal Edward Arrigoni and counselor Samantha Brossette.
Salutatorian Kaelyn Porch, with a weighted GPA of 3.9, will head for UC Santa Cruz, Brossette said, studying psychology with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.
Between them, the two accomplished young women accumulated more than 20 scholarships, many awarded by generous members of the community, Arrigoni said.
Both grads had been active in “Friday Night Live,” community service through the Rotary Club’s Interact Club, art club and more, Brossette said.
The two school leaders lavished praise on the local support and on the senior class itself.
“It’s a very generous community … local donors do a lot to help these kids,” Arrigoni said of his student body in which about 90% are identified as low income, many first-generation.
“All but one student received some kind of scholarship, with one of them good for $10,000 a year for all four years,” he said. That one student is going into the U.S. Air Force.
Two other students are going into the military, Brossette said. Seven are attending four-year universities, one is going into the California Conservation Corps and the rest plan to attend Cuesta College.
“This is our last class that really struggled with the COVID pandemic,” the counselor said. “They overcame it and really matured. Some will go off to study trades, and it’s exciting to see kids that feel like they have something positive to focus on for their life besides going to a university.”
During the graduation ceremony, a memorial diploma was awarded posthumously to the late Eric Aguilar Miranda, who died in a September 2024 single-vehicle accident on a sweeping curve of Highway 1.
Aguilar Miranda’s parents accepted their late son’s diploma in an emotional presentation.
Cambria’s Leffingwell High School, a continuation campus, had no students enrolled this year, Arrigoni said.
Templeton alternative celebrates 2026 graduates
Wednesday’s ceremonies didn’t mark the first of the week’s graduations, however.
Another 64 students graduated from Templeton’s alternative schools on Monday night.
That included 37 graduates from the Templeton Independent Study High School and 27 graduates from Templeton Adult School, according to school secretary Janice Casacca.
Twenty-three students will be heading to Cuesta College, two others will go to other community colleges and two students will attend four-year universities, Casacca told The Tribune via email.
Other graduates will be entering the workforce, including running a clothing startup, one pursuing a job in professional rodeo and one continuing a career in commercial fishing in Morro Bay, Casacca said.
Lucia Mar alternative education celebrates graduates
Arroyo Grande’s Lopez Continuation High School also celebrated its graduation Wednesday evening.
According to the grad program, the school saw 56 students turn their tassels.
The ceremony celebrated valedictorian Riley Manzanares and salutatorian Emily Vickrey.
The cohort of seniors also received a slew of scholarships from local clubs and organizations.
Meanwhile, Lucia Mar’s Pacific View Academy celebrated a class of 35 graduates on Tuesday, including valedictorian Brooklyn Skarda and salutatorian Grace Almaguer.
The district’s adult education program also saw 43 people graduate with their diplomas Tuesday, alongside 33 who completed the cosmetology program and 15 who completed the medical program.
Atascadero alternative schools host commencement
Atascadero’s alternative schools also hosted commencement this week.
According to superintendent’s assistant Veronica Luna, Paloma Creek High School saw 40 students graduate, while ACE Academy celebrated 63 graduates.
Paloma Creek students received over $12,000 in scholarships, Luna said, while ACE Academy students brought in another $32,700 in scholarships.
ACE Academy also highlighted valedictorian Natalie Prevost and salutatorian Preston Hopper.
After graduation, students will be heading to Cal Poly SLO, UC Davis and other universities, Luna said.
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