A graduating senior salutes a family member at the graduation ceremony for Burbank High School’s Class of 2016 at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016.
Burbank High principal Mike Bertram spoke highly of the graduating seniors who have collectively accumulated 25,000 hours of community service as the 600 graduates prepared to receive their diplomas Friday night at the Starlight Bowl.
“This is a remarkable class,” he said of the Bulldogs. “You all most certainly left your paw prints at Burbank High School.”
Student speaker Grace Tarandek encouraged her classmates to strive for selflessness.
“We must remember to stay aware of what is happening globally and to not turn a blind eye to injustices happening around us,” she said. “Stand up for what you believe in and don’t turn your back on something you are fearful of.”
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Valedictorian Daniel Ragheb smiles near the conclusion of his speech at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduating senior Arman Margaryan holds up his diploma to show it off to his family at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Katelynn Mayfield, 18, holds up her diploma to show it off to her family at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank High School Principal Michael Bertram shakes the hand of a graduate at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduating seniors march in two rows into the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A graduating senior salutes a family member at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduating senior Brandon Han makes his way up steep stairs, then a steep incline, to his seat at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The Starlight Bowl is filled to capactity for the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Olivia Bodner sings the lead with the In Sync Choir singing “Stand Up and Make a Chang” at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Valedictorian Daniel Ragheb applauds his fellow graduates during his speech at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduating senior and valedictorian Daniel Ragheb smiles with his diploma cover at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Dalia Farazdaghi points to family in the audience as she gets in line to receive her dipoma cover at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank High School Principal Michael Bertram smiles as he starts his welcome address at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank High School Principal Michael Bertram, who claims he never wears red, holds up a red folder to prove the graduation attire he is wearing is cardinal, and not red, at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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One of 30 security guards talks on his radio in the middle of the crowd during the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. Security was very high at the venue, including several Burbank police and fireman. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Senior speaker Grace Tarandek at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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The graduates, rather than wait at the top of the grassy area inside the Bowl, they gathered in a grassy area outside in front at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A mass of graduating seniors file into the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A sea of blue caps at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Parents with cell phones and cameras try and get a photo of the In Sync Choir performing at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Student speaker Noa Drake at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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A parent salutes her graduate at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Students smile and laugh with the speech by valedictorian Daniel Ragheb at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Graduating senior Henry Saroyan looks back to family during a moment to acknowledge family members for their contributions at the graduation ceremony for the 2016 class of Burbank High School at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank on Friday, May 27, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
Fellow student speaker Noa Drake said students should graduate with a clear heart.
“My one hope for the class of 2016 is that once you leave this stage, you leave without any regrets of your time here,” she said.
For graduate Kristine Zakarian, who will begin college at Cal State Northridge in the fall, graduating from Burbank High signified a “huge honor,” she said before the ceremony.
“It’s been a great experience,” she said. “Graduating today is bittersweet. It’s really sad because when you think about it, you’re not going to see most of these people ever again.”
For Jacqueline Avedisian, who will begin her studies at a community college and study biology, said her time at Burbank High has shaped her in a positive way.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself and those around me. They’ve made it a very memorable experience. Aside from having amazing teachers that have taught me a lot, being involved in my clubs such as Armenian Club, Hope Club, being in the academy of finance, have all accumulated to who I am today and I’m very grateful for that. High school has created the person that I am now.”
Kelly Corrigan is a former News Desk multiplatform editor for the Los Angeles Times. For several years, she covered education for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader, winning John Swett awards for her education coverage in 2016 and 2017. She is a graduate of Cal State San Marcos and the Missouri School of Journalism.
