Whitney celebrates first graduation

Yet another first in Whitney High School's short history will come to pass tonight: Its first graduation.When Whitney opened three years ago, it was home to only sophomores who transferred from Rocklin High School and new freshmen. Those first sophomores will be the school's very first graduating class.And because those graduating from Whitney are not among Rocklin High School's graduates, Rocklin High's graduating class will be its smallest since the 2000 graduation, according to principal Mike Garrison."Since then, we've boomed," he said, adding that last year there were about 500 graduates – all juniors when Whitney opened.Originally designed to accommodate about 1,800 students, Rocklin High School's population numbered more than 2,700 before Whitney opened its doors."This year we had a little over 1,600 students and we'll be graduating more than 340," Garrison said.Of those, eight were valedictorians, graduates who made it to the top-2 percent of their class.Due, in part, to the reduced number, this year's graduates are a "fairly close group," Garrison said.Although the graduation ceremony will be a somewhat smaller affair, Garrison says that the traditional professionalism the school is known for will remain in place."There are no beach balls bouncing around or any other immature behavior," he said.Rocklin Unified School Board member Todd Lowell also lauded the decorum of the Rocklin High School commencement."There's a dignity to the ceremony that's more mature than some college graduations," Lowell said, adding that U.S. News and World Reports says Rocklin High School is one of the top high schools in the country.Rocklin High's graduation will be held on the Rocklin High School campus at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night.As for Whitney High School, Lowell said the graduation represents a community achievement."The community came together to create the school," he said, adding that the community decided on the taxes necessary to make Whitney possible."Whitney will grow a little more – within the next five to seven years both schools will have about 1,700 students," Lowell said.Whitney High School Principal Debra Hawkins said that the graduation also solidifies the establishment of the school's identity."These kids went through school without any predecessors," Hawkins said, adding that this year's seniors have set the traditions for years to come."There have been a lot of firsts. They are very proud of themselves," she said. "The kids talk about 'this being our house.'""In two years, we have done more to set an identity and a culture than other schools have done in 20 years. These kids know they're Wildcats," Hawkins said. "There is a tremendous amount of pride of who we are and what we have accomplished."Of the approximately 270 graduates, 11 fell within the top two percent to be valedictorians.Whitney High School's graduation will be held on campus tonight at 7:30 p.m.Michael Althouse can be reached at: mikealthouse@earthlink.net