There were speeches by students and educators, caps flung into the air and flowers cradled against gowns. There was a feeling of joy and a sense of curiosity about what’s ahead. There was even some cash awarded.
Olympic High School held its graduation ceremony outdoors on its campus earlier this month, when principal Anthony Fuller and other officials celebrated the accomplishments of the 24 students who finished their work at the Santa Monica-Malibu school district’s continuation school.
Those students made up less than half of the whole 59-member Olympic graduating Class of 2016, which also included 28 students from the Adult Education Center, four students from the off-campus learning center and three who completed their General Educational Development requirements.
Olympic students received a total of more than $21,000 in scholarships, according to SMMUSD spokeswoman Gail Pinsker.
That figure includes $16,500 from the Assistance League of Santa Monica, which raises money primarily through its 15th Street thrift shop to support a variety of community programs, including educational scholarships. The local chapter of the national charity organization has awarded more than $830,000 in scholarships to more than 140 recipients since 2001, according to its website.
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