From left, Candace Gurereque and Rachel Cheng celebrate their graduation from Bonita High School.

Under cool, cloudy skies, Bonita seniors sang their alma mater for a final time before changing their tassels and marching into a post-high school world.

Senior class president Jaclyn Smith served as master of ceremonies as the senior Bearcats heard speeches by valedictorian Heren Wei (Cal Poly), salutatorians Brian Champion (UCLA) and Ruoyang Wang (UC Berkeley) and musical performances “So Baby” by Lindsey Kunisaki and Tyler Miller, “I Will Remember You” by Sharayah Grattan and Sarah Viggers, and “Pomp and Circumstance” by the Bonita Symphonic Band.

Ashley Maxfeldt is jazzed about going to Loyola next fall.

Candace Guereque delivered the welcoming speech, Haley Williamson gave the commencement address and Rachel Chang presented the farewell address before the students were awarded their diplomas. Jim Elliot, as the president of the Bonita Unified School District (BUSD) board, officially accepted the class.

Diploma presenters included: Elliot, BUSD Superintendent Dr. Gary J. Rapkin and Bonita Principal Bob Ketterling and school board members Chuck Coyne, Glenn Creiman, Diane Koach, and Patti Latourelle.

While the students may be off to college and the workaday world, they’ll always be Bearcats. Reunion: 2021. Don’t miss it!

Photos brought to you by the good people of Farmer’s Insurance and super agent Steve Johnson in La Verne.