As caps begin to fly and the final bell rings, seniors at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School are going to finally enter a new chapter of their lives, as they graduate on June 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mulholland Middle School.

Seniors will receive their diplomas as they walk up the stage. Valedictorians Satenik Ayrapetyan and Kristin Intal, who are Print Editor-in-Chief and Visual Editor of The Pearl Post, will deliver speeches, along with salutatorian Vanessa Morales, who is the Features Editor of The Pearl Post.

Attending graduation as a keynote speaker is DPMHS alumnus Enrie Amezuca, who is now an Executive Producer at Eyewitness News KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield. Amezuca had graduated in 2014 and was The Pearl Post opinion editor in his senior year as well as the first producer for PNN during its debut in spring 2014.

“It’s going to be a fantastic, fun, and important day for the families because they’ve had their students going through four years of struggle, and it’s a big educational step into the next chapter,” Magnet Coordinator James Morrison said. 

“I have been a part of the graduation ceremonies since the beginning of my work here at Daniel Pearl. I haven’t always attended the graduations, but I was always helping and planning for our young adults,¨ Morrison said.

Following through the journey into adulthood as young teenagers is heartwarming. It’s emotional for teachers to see their students grow up so fast and continue on with their lives.

¨It’s quite sad seeing them move on since I’ve seen them grow up from freshman year, but it’s good that they will be moving on with their lives,” Morrison said. 

The ceremony will all be live-streamed by Tennessee Norton’s video production students. Music teacher Wes Hambright’s students will perform live music during the ceremony.

”It’s exciting, and yes, a little scary, but I know they are prepared for any obstacle that comes their way,” Morrison said