FOLSOM- A crowd that was standing room only surrounded the field at Prairie City stadium Thursday evening to witness the commencement of the Folsom High School class of 2024. The event marked a milestone of 101 years for the Bulldogs in the city.
With approximately attendance tickets allotted for each of the 684 graduates, an estimated 4,788 spectators packed both sides of the stadium, making it the largest graduating class and attending crowd for the Folsom Cordova School District (FCUSD) this year. In addition to those in the stadium, others lined the hillside just above the visitor side of the grandstands to catch a glimpse of their loved ones or friends on their special day. The ceremony was combined for graduates for Folsom High School as well as Folsom Lake High School, which produced 41 of the overall graduates this year.
While Prairie City Stadium was literally packed Thursday, thousands more watched from afar as the momentous event was live streamed with the collaboration of Folsom Times and Folsom TV in partnership with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUDSD) again this year. The livestream has been a well-received component of FCUSD’s graduation ceremonies. Not only does the free broadcast provide large families that can’t fully attend the ceremony, it offers friends and families of graduates enjoy the milestone who may be homebound or out of the area to do so.
After carrying the long tradition of marching through the large inflatable bulldog at the stadium entry, graduates dispersed into what seemed like endless rows of chairs beneath the sun setting to the west just after 7 p.m. Thursday as the final notes of Edward Elgar’s famed Pomp and Circumstance played over the stadium speakers as emotions began to rise amongst both the graduates and those watching.
The ceremony opened with Folsom High School Student Body President Holly Wagner leading the class and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the National Anthem that was performed by the Folsom High School Jazz Choir, some of which were performing amongst for the final time as graduating seniors, performing in their caps and gowns along with fellow underclass members.
As the anthem came to a close, Principal Howard Cadenhead took to the stage with the opening message followed by long list of academic acknowledgements for the graduating students. Cadenhead’s departing words to the students second and final performance by the Jazz Choir.
After one last performance by the Jazz Choir, a series of student speeches took the evening to a point filled with reflection, inspiration and the journey into the unknown. The class of 2024 began their high school years in the wake of the pandemic, an experience that many reflected on as they spoke. The 2024 Valedictorians included Arielle Amri, Bianca Brown, Jack Falen, Angela Merrill, Allyson Overmyer, Ama Padye, Manahil Rehman, Hitha Varganti, Taylor Wilczewski and Mia Yasutake.
When it came time for the presentation of graduates, Sarah McClure returned to the stadium. McClure was joined by Senior Class Treasurer Madilyn Stroh as they began to run down the long list of graduates names that took the sunset into darkness. School.
Assistant Principal Greg Crannell performed the release of teachers and led them into their recessional, leaving the field to the graduates as McClure performed the traditional transition of tassels moments before the crowd of graduates tossed their caps into the air and the eruption of celebration began as they were joined by family members. Folsom Times photos below by Bill Sullivan. You can also view and share all of our news photos of this event BY CLICKING HERE.
