DPMHS community celebrates the Class of 2026

Jasmine Thompson, Silas Hinkle, Jade Gramajo, Linus Bossardt, and Alex Salcedo • May 11, 2026

Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) organized its first commitment day, a ceremony where graduating seniors from the Class of 2026 announced the colleges or post-graduation plans to which they are committing to.

“The best thing about organizing this event was the excitement of seeing the next generation carry on,” said counselor Virginia Morales, who organized the event.

Seniors were dismissed from period 4 and went to the MPR to eat food from Porto’s Bakery and then walked out to The Grove, where the ceremony was held on May 6. The event, where the whole school community came to cheer the Class of 2026, started during period 4 and lasted until lunch.

“I thought it was going to be super fast, but the results of it were really nice,” said senior Gabriella Urteaga, who’s attending California State University, Northridge. “I like how the school is very kind about where we chose to go to school, no one felt ashamed of where they were going.”

Math and Portuguese teacher Gonçalo Fino De Sousa, the Class of 2026 sponsor, served as the emcee of the event. After the introduction and speeches of keynote speakers Dr. Mylene Keipp, administrator of instruction for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), LAUSD Local District North Regional Daniel Steiner and LAUSD Counseling Coordinator Yolanda Jimenez, the seniors were called to walk across the red carpet and handed letters written by teachers, underclassmen and parents. Upon walking the red carpet, seniors signed around a blank canvas that read “Daniel Pearl 2026,” while live music from the DPMHS Music Department played.

After the seniors walked the stage, they headed back to the MPR, where there were raffles for prizes such as gift cards and a free prom ticket. The Class of 2026 also received free t-shirts and took photos in the photo booth. Senior Sebestian Olfatmanesh is excited for his future at the University of California, Berkeley.

“I’m probably going into film and video production, for now, it’s undecided,” Olfatmanesh said. “I’m excited about the new environment, about meeting new people and just to continue making films and music.”

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About the Contributors

Jasmine Thompson, Opinion Editor

Jasmine Thompson is a junior and this year’s Opinion Editor for The Pearl Post. It is her second year on staff and she hopes to help the staff writers speak up for what they believe in and be communicative with her team. Outside of The Pearl Post, Jasmine is the secretary for the Class of 2027 and enjoys listening to music while journaling.

Silas Hinkle, Staff Writer

Silas Hinkle is a sophomore and in his first year on the DPMHS Student Media staff. One goal he has for the year is to improve on writing stories and doing interviews. Outside of school, he enjoys playing guitar, listening to music and watching movies.

Jade Gramajo, Staff Writer

Jade Gramajo is a sophomore in her first year on the DPMHS Student Media staff. Her goal for this year is to add to her writing skills, gain more experience and create stories for her peers. Jade enjoys listening to music, painting various art pieces and spending time with her family and friends.

Linus Bossardt, Managing Editor

Linus Bossardt is this year’s Managing Editor for The Pearl Post. Excited for his second year on staff, he plans to produce works that focus on the details of the ordinary. Outside of journalism and photography, Linus enjoys playing guitar and keyboard, singing, programming, graphic design, martial arts, volunteering and creating tabletop games. He is officially certified in Adobe Photoshop.

Alex Salcedo, Visual Editor

Alex Salcedo is this year’s Visual Editor for The Pearl Post. As a junior in his second year on the DPMHS Student Media staff, he is focusing on capturing moments that speak louder than words. This year, he aims to grow his portfolio and take the photojournalism aspect of The Pearl Post to the next level. Outside of school, you’ll find him refining his camera skills. He also enjoys playing music, going to the gym or catching up on much-needed sleep.