Dublin High School Class of 2016 Commencement: “All the World’s a Stage”

DUBLIN, CA–Hot, cold, wind, rain (choose one) – for this year’s commencement Mother Nature chose Dublin winds to rule the day! Dublin High School’s Class of 2016 commencement ceremony borrowed from Shakespeare, choosing the theme “All’s the world’s a stage” from As You Like It, appropriate for the setting and to recognize retiring Principal Carol Shimizu who started her career as an English teacher. Also recognized as he heads into retirement is Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke. Both had tenures in the Dublin Unified School District that far exceed the national average. OneDublin.org took over 400 photos during the event that are freely available for downloading and sharing if credited to OneDublin.org (available here).

As was the case last year, Dublin High seniors were able to graduate at home, in Gaels Stadium. The growth in enrollment at DHS brings increased energy and excitement for each graduating class, with stands packed with grandparents, parents, siblings and friends. Each name read brings a burst of cheers from across the stadium building to the moment every student waits for – the turning of the tassels and flinging of mortar boards into a cloudless sky. Over 450 seniors crossed the stage this year, with more to come in future years.

The event included speeches and presentations by Dublin High School Gael Scholar Sean Fukamaki, City of Dublin Mayor David Haubert, Principal Carol Shimizu and Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke, School Board Trustee Greg Tomlinson, Senior Class President Rachel Tomlinson, Senior Class Vice President Xenia Perea and Senior Class Treasurer Evonne Nguyen. The Dublin High Color Guard and Band, the Dublin High Choir, bagpiper Jeff Campbell and members of the Air Force Color Guard added fanfare to the ceremony. Former Dublin High School teacher Tim Sbranti was the Master of Ceremonies.

OneDublin.org had the honor and privilege to attend the event, capturing highlights on video including a time-lapse movie of the diploma presentations (compressing two hours down to under 4 minutes):

The Class of 2016 has a lot to celebrate: 98% of Dublin High’s Class of 2016 will be attending college this Fall, including Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, every University of California (UC), every CSU campus and and many more.

For those who couldn’t attend (and for those that want to relive some of the highlights) here is more from the memorable event:

Dublin High School Gael Scholar Sean Fukamaki

Dublin High School Senior Class President Rachel Tomlinson

Dublin High School Senior Vice President Xenia Perea and Treasurer Evonne Nguyen

DUSD School Board Trustee Greg Tomlinson

Dublin High School Principal Carol Shimizu and DUSD Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hanke

City of Dublin Mayor David Haubert

Excerpt from As You Like It by William Shakespeare:

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.