Westlake High graduateits largest class ever

With the green and brown of the Santa Monica Mountains as a backdrop, 552 seniors filed into Warrior Stadium last Thursday afternoon. Some waved to the capacity crowd as they took their seats; others were strictly business.

The processional lasted a long time as pairs of seniors paused momentarily before passing through two white archways leading to the seating area. It was the biggest graduating class in the history of Westlake High School.

It was warm but not hot, and an intermittent breeze kept the crowd reasonably comfortable.

What distinguishes Westlake (to those who've witnessed more than a handful of high school commencement exercises) is the emphasis on music, and 2008 was no exception.

In addition to the school's instrumental ensemble, attendees heard:

•"If We Hold on Together" sung by A Class Act.

•"Make a Memory" performed by Ari Kaplan, Eric Lan, Adriane Lim, Brandon Woodward and Lia Woodward.

•"In My Life" performed by Nicole Ackerman, Corey Esparza, Julia Fongheiser, Matt Garcia, Matt Goldberg, Natalie Hajian, Ashley Ormsby and Michael Wismann.

Sara Hagey, class president, introduced dignitaries, who included Superintendent Mario Contini, Assistant Superintendent Janet Cosaro and Dorothy Beaubien, a member of the board of education.

Hagey said commencement wasn't the best day for the graduating class. Any day that someone made a new friend was a best day in high school, she said.

Jeremy Bachrach recalled one memorable day for every member of the Class of '08: the day the school went into a full lockdown because a bear was wandering the foothills and wooded areas north of the campus.

Principal Ron Lipari presented the class and said it was one of the best ever.

Beaubien accepted the class and diplomas were presented.

A total of 16 students were valedictorians: Lucy Darago, Ellen Friedman, Robert Headley, Dominic Insogna, Arielle Kirk, Jonathon Kotzin, Benjamine Liu, Kathleen Lo, Andrew Maleki, Kathryn Nary, Brian Park, Linda Peng, Sidney Primas, Philip Shao, Aislinn Smalling and Danni Xie.

Following the ceremony the Class of 2008 met in the quad area for photographs and hugs. Shortly afterward they departed for an all-night excursion to Disneyland.