Graduates find joy amid struggle at Serra High, Bridges Community Day School, and Fresh Start commencements

Serra High School and Bridges Community Day High School celebrated their high school graduates on July 24 in a special, socially distanced, commencement held outdoors on Serra High’s campus. The Fresh Start Independent Study program also celebrated its graduates.

“We are proud of our Serra High School Class of 2020 and the resilience, fortitude, and perseverance they have demonstrated,” Ervais wrote to the class.

The schools held a walk-through procession in which students and their family and friends drove into the parking lot on Friday, July 24, 2020 and waited, as graduates were called one by one to walk to a designated area under a shady tree to receive their diploma, be congratulated by Principal Dr. Meg Ervais, and turn their tassels.

“We saw many students taking on part-time and full-time jobs to help their families while still completing coursework online,” Ervais said. “Students were successful despite the challenges, demonstrating their grit and determination. The majority of our class of 2020 finished their high school requirements early.”

The graduates are listed in alphabetical order following the photo essay.

*A Serra High graduate moves the tassel to the other side during the school’s 2020 graduation ceremony.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*In a show of appreciation, Caison Saunders-Phillips hands flowers to each of the teachers who came to Serra High’s graduation ceremony.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Kyrsa Larsen, left, Vanessa Martel and Meghan Gomez smile as they hold their 2020 Serra High school graduation diplomas during the commencement ceremony at the high school.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Brooklyn Davis moves her tassel to the other side during a graduation ceremony at Serra High School.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Friends cheer as Meghan Gomez receives her diploma from Serra High Principal Dr. Meg Ervais.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Serra High Principal Dr. Meg Ervais presides over a socially distanced graduation ceremony as students leave their car, one at a time, to walk up and receive their diplomas.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Family members of Serra High graduate Caison Saunders-Phillips gather in front of the school as he receives his diploma.*
*Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Luis Herrera puts his graduation gown on as he is called up from his car to walk up and receive his diploma during a 2020 graduation ceremony at Serra High.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Caison Saunders-Phillips moves his tassel to the other side as Serra High graduates walk up one at a time to receive their diploma.*
*Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Family members of Serra High graduate Wendy Mendez gather in front of the school to watch her graduate in a special 2020 graduation ceremony.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Corrina Wilson stands on the grass stage in front of her high school as Serra High Principal Dr. Meg Ervais congratulates her during a graduation ceremony where each student gets their own ceremony.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Capistrano Unified School District Trustee Martha McNicholas participates in Serra High School’s 2020 graduation ceremony.*
*Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

*Serra High Graduate Arianna Namvar during her 2020 graduation ceremony.* *Photo by Steven Georges/Cornerstone Communications*

The Bridges Community Day School graduates are:

Emma Bessie Greenblatt

Ryder Alexander Sain

The Serra High School graduates are, in alphabetical order:

Valerie Aguilar

Nautica Arreguin

Nickolas Howard Bolduc

Benjamin Bonifacio Vilchez

Alejandro Camacho

Cristal Caudillo

Ryan Alexander Ceballos

Megan Marie Chatman

Samuel Joseph Chavez

Micah Hayward James Cobb

Jacob Dylan DeJesus

Ellary Winter Devine

Isaac Drew Duamarell

Noelle Rose Eads

Margarita Gabriela Elias

Kira Liana Figueroa

Taylor Fliege

Nayeli Florentino

Braydon David Gaspar

Julian Noel Ghalami

Meghan Pamela Gomez

Luis Gomez Reyes

Mario Alberto Gonzales

Gisselle Gonzalez

Maddisyn Gorder

Ulises Gutierrez

Roberto Gutierrez Munoz

Zachary Thomas Haley

Johnathan Michael Hall

Luis Adrian Herrera

Zachary Andrew Howard

Vladislav Ivanenko

Liliana Jaimes Gonzalez

Annissa Delayne Jenkins

Arbaab Khan

Alan Ashley Kleindienst

Mia Susan Kleindienst

Camden Michael Lange

Kyra Marie Larsen

Faith Loggins

Vanessa Martel

Emanuel Mena

Wendy Aylet Mendez Cigarroa

Alonzo Mendoza

Trent James Mioduszewski

Tyler Thomas Mitchell

Mak Murphy

Arianna Aliya Namvar

August Olvera

Diego Perez Medina

Jesus Ricardo Ponce

Dianneth Ramirez

Luis Enrique Ramirez

Azucena Lizeth Rosas

Jake Ruvalcaba

Caleb Salazar

Francisco Salazar Villaa

Brian Salinas

David Salvador Sarabia

Caison Jaleel Saunders-Phillips

Annaleise Crystal Schimke

Dalia Sosa

Brandon David Taylor

Airany Torres

Sophi Ruth Vanzant

Amanda Lee Whitaker

Karenna Rose Wilson

Mason Grey Woodard

Jessica Ann Wright

Yoselin Kassandra Ximello

Mykola Yurkov

Jameswilliam Zamora

Sina Zarea

The Fresh Start graduates are, in alphabetical order:

Callie Elisabeth Bixby

Lauren Briana Bowers

Emily Margaret Damron

Juan Escalona

Jasmine Mikayla Gardner

Grace Gryder

Hinata Leo Kawaguchi

Leilani Clemente La Pointe

Connor Douglas Lloyd

Karla Sanchez

Feroza Sharifi

Madeleine Louise Somsel

Tanner Noah Tumlinson

James Brandon Vendesteeg

Jayden Star Yilmaz