2010 CAS Graduation

On May 29 in the Berkeley Rep theater, approximately sixty Communication Arts and Science (CAS) students celebrated their upcoming graduation.

The ceremony included a speech by Beatriz Leyva of the school board and executive director of BAHIA. CAS teacher Amy Crawford told of her memories with the class of 2010, emphasizing her experience as a PE teacher.
When it comes time for the students to walk the stage, CAS had a different way of congratulating their graduates. Each of the students’ photograph is projected onto a large screen, then a CAS teacher gives a small speech about what made them such a valuable part of the program.

“The teacher remarks about the kids embody what CAS is about” said CAS teacher Ingrid Martinez, “Because of the personalization and the affirmation that what we’re doing takes care of the whole child.” Each graduate gives a brief and touching appreciation of their CAS family which showed how connected the class of 10’ is to their community and how close of a family they were.

The program also included two musical performances by CAS graduates, a violin performance by Ken Matsueda, and a rock/rap mix up performed by Khadejhia Kassenbrock, Kenyon Williams, Luis Flores, Alec Mutter and Matsueda.
Then came an announcement of the recipients of CAS scholarships which included; Marvel Wilson, Ericc King, Dijonnae Hopkins, Marcia Flores, Luis Flores, and Valeria Gonzalez.

The event ended with a speech from CAS teacher Hasmig Minassian who made her love for CAS’s class of 2010 with words of love and kindness, and she spoke of how she and her fellow CAS teachers had been preparing them for this day, Minassian closed with “but the thing is, none of us want you to go.”