LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) – There are a lot of things that make the now graduated Live Oak High School Class of 2021 special – over 18 students received Perpetual Awards, a whopping 36 scholarships were granted to one or more students, not to mention the way they met and overcame the challenge of COVID-19, while excelling.

The beloved Principal of LOHS, Principal Tony Walton, added another item to that list. As he amped up the crowd at Live Oaks Graduation Ceremony, June 3^rd, Principal Walton dropped the fact that the Class of 2021 was in fact, the 100^th class to graduate from Live Oak High School.

As graduates anxiously awaited their turn to march through the purple and gold arches to their spot on the graduate stage, Principal Walton did what he does best.  He exclaimed, you’re getting “raw unfiltered Mr. Walton right now!!” as he spoke candidly and from the heart to the graduating class about what L.O.H.S meant to him and his hopes for his students. The letter “L” stood for love and the ability to laugh at oneself and their mistakes. Principal Walton said the letter “O” stood for “Don’t be ordinary, be original in whatever you do.” With the letter “H” Principal Walton challenged his students to “don’t ever fade from being honest”, honorable and humble. And lastly, Principal Walton declared that “S” stood for showing gratitude and serving others.

As graduates flooded the stage from both sides of the field, and commencement ceremonies got fully underway, the crowd was privileged to hear from multiple student speakers, featuring multi-language translations, leading up to the grand speeches of Salutatorian Shaniya Chand and Valedictorian Komal Gill.

Throughout the ceremony, it was clear the relationships between the graduates of the class of 2021 and their educators were incredibly strong, like family. And with proud families filling the stands and socially distanced field seats, nearly 130 students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas and officially graduate into the great wide world.

Principal Walton said, “We, and I speak for the entire staff of Live Oak High School, have come to know this class very well, have seen them grow into wonderful young men and women. We are extremely proud of them, and we know that their future is full of endless opportunities to grow and excel. We would like to acknowledge them for their many accomplishments during these last four glorious years at Live Oak high. This is the class of high achievers.”