WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The Rio Linda High School Class of 2022 celebrated their graduation ceremony at Sutter Health Park on Thursday, June 2. This year’s graduation was filled with renewed enthusiasm as many relished in the fact they did not have to muffle their faces and smiles with COVID masks.

The graduation program began with the presentation of the U.S. and California flags by the accompanying color guard, and the singing of the national anthem by graduating student, Ameiah Williams. High School Principal Paul Orlando was the Master of Ceremonies for the 59^th Class of Rio Linda High School.

With the Jumbotron at Sutter Health Park congratulating this year’s class in the background, the stage was seated with attending TRUSD school board members: Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez; Associate Superintendent, Dr. Lori Grace; Assistant Superintendent, Kristen Coates, Ed.D.; Secretary Director of Education, Dr. Brett Taylor; Vice President School Board, Mike Baker; Board Clerk, Christine Jefferson; and Board Member Stacey Bastian.

Principal Orlando greeted and congratulated this year’s graduates and their families, and then reported, “We have over 270… graduating seniors committed to enroll in colleges and universities. We have a total of 84 students who are Career Technical Education (CTE) completers … [with] 81 students receiving the Golden State Seal, 50 seniors earning the Seal of Biliteracy and 33 AVID students.” He proudly reported that 42 seniors had maintained straight A’s. “That’s the most ever!” he proclaimed.

Class of 2022 Salutorian Makaila Chow spoke to her classmates about the intense four years of study they just finished, the significance of academic and personal sacrifices made and finally enjoying this moment of achievement.

“I anticipated this future so much that everything else in my life became insignificant,” Chow said, “Now that I finally finished high school, I realize that the funny thing about anticipation is that you never really learned to enjoy the present when you spend all of your time worrying about the future. Yesterday, we were all high schoolers, today take time to be proud of yourselves!”

Class of 2022 Valedictorian Trayvon Thorpe also spoke, but he focused more on how to move forward with adult life.

“I know from my own experience [that] if you try every single day, get up in the morning and put effort into what you are actually wanting to do, then you are successful no matter what anyone else says,” Thorpe said, “The life you lead and how you define yourself is completely up to you.”

Principal Orlando congratulated students on their achievement and experience (referring to COVID) saying, “I am a firm believer that something good will come out of something bad. The Class of 2022 has proven this to be true in every sense of the word. Congratulations, Class of 2022! You have travelled a path to graduation that very few have.”

“And remember once a Knight, always a Knight!” he finalized.