Cape Coral High School graduated its Class of 2010 on Saturday night at the Harborside Event Center.
The city’s oldest high school bestowed diplomas to 350 high school seniors. Graduating seniors Tia Hayes and Kylee Shirakawa both achieved Summa Cum Laude based on grade point averages and were commencement speakers on Saturday.
Hayes described the many memories each student shared, like the pep rallies and athletic events, and how the Seahawks football team had an undefeated regular season.
“Looking back, there are so many memorable moments at Cape Coral High, we definitely made our mark,” said Hayes. “Even though we’re going our separate ways, we will never forget being a Seahawk at Cape Coral High School.”
Shirakawa said that academic organizations at the high school had proved themselves at the local, state and national level. She also reflected on her experience in the school’s prestigious International Baccalaureate program, one of three sites offering the degree program in Lee County.
She asked, in retrospect, why the IB students chose such a difficult, rigorous program? One filled with late nights of studying and sacrifices to satisfy high academic standards.
“Now that it is over, many of us know we would do it again,” she answered.
Shirakawa also described the high school as a tight-knit community.
“Here at Cape Coral High School, we are a family who supports one another,” she said.
Six graduates – Monica Bahamon, Shirakawa, Chelsea Torres, Christina Todd, Pascal Joseph and Brea DeShield – presented the senior class gift to Principal Eric McFee. The gift was six molded plastic picnic tables for the school’s outdoor eating area. Each table has a plaque stating it is from the Class of 2010.
McFee said this graduating class is unique because it’s the first cohort who had him as principal for all four years of high school.
“They came in as my freshman babies and they’re graduating as senior adults,” he said. “Please take the time to set goals for yourself and make responsible decisions.”
Lee County School Board Member Robert Chilmonik said the graduating class had completed the requirements set by the school district and state, and shook hands with each graduate as they crossed the stage.
Class President Monica Bahamon led the tassel ceremony where each of the students moved their tassels from the right to left side, or the symbolic transition from student to graduate.
Following the ceremony all of the graduates gathered in the lobby of Harborside Event Center where they cheered and hugged. Later, they walked over to Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers to meet up with their families and take pictures.
Graduate Helen Gorsuch said she never thought graduation would come.
“We spent four years with the same people, you don’t think in your freshman year that you’ll ever make it to senior year,” she said, adding that one day you realize it’s all over and you find yourself on stage at Harborside wearing a blue robe, cap and tassels.