Monterey Bay Academy celebrated its 55th graduation June 4-6 with a class of 61 seniors earning their diplomas as well as several awards and scholarships for leadership and academic achievement.
"We have always worked very hard," says Michelle Lara, class president. "It was great to see so many of my classmates recognized for their long hours of studying."
That effort showed as the class of 2004 was honored throughout the weekend. Twenty of the seniors graduated with honors, 17 with high honors and one student, Yoko Nagayama, graduated with highest honors.
Several students were also given special awards, including 11 Bank of America Achievement Awards in areas of study from science to drama. The commencement speaker, Doug Batchelor, speaker/director of Amazing Facts, received an honorary high school diploma from the academy.
"Graduation is an amazing experience," said Mona Bascoy, a four-year senior from Rancho Palos Verdes. "Our class has always been very close and had a lot of good students. We grew more spiritually this year. That’s why I appreciated the senior huddle the most on graduation day."
The senior huddle is a tradition that began in 1994 when Bill Keresoma, now principal, spoke at commencement. Keresoma and the academy staff take the seniors off to the side for one last session of prayer before they march out as graduates.
"The whole purpose of the huddle is to let our students know that God brought them to MBA, and we want them to leave in God’s presence. We continue to stay a family because of Him," Keresoma says.
The class of 2004 upholds another tradition of excellence. Just like the 54 classes that have gone before them, more than 95 percent of the seniors have already made plans for college.
"We will miss this class for several reasons," Keresoma says. "This class is fun loving, they hold each other accountable and they know how to work hard. They are a great addition to our alumni family, and we hope to see them often."
