Congraduations!

By Bill Kisliuk
From the Editor

Paige Tsai. Branden Figueroa. Lauren Waldenburg. Marco Delaroche. Gianna Wright. Lilyana Gonzalez. 

Our Graduation Special, to be included in Wednesday’s Register, includes the names of all graduates from all Napa County high schools and colleges, from Calistoga Wildcats to Kolbe Academy Crusaders.

My brain is awash in names from preparing the lists, and I am not the only one. Education reporter Natalie Hoffman spent a few weeks gently hammering on all the schools to get us lists of graduates, and administrative workers at all the campuses responded in good cheer and on our deadlines. Thank you one and all, and even you, Lisa Moddelmog, the Register page designer who waited semi-patiently for me to finish and then created the special section.

As we pummeled the rosters into publishable shape, I was most struck by the lists of scholarships. Many students — including those listed above — earned multiple financial scholarships and honors. Some were for academic achievement, some for athletic achievement, some for community service and some because their elementary schools had the foresight to help former students as they move on to college.

The scholars are very impressive. So are the groups that set aside money each year to support local students on their way forward. Without the foresight and generosity of those organizations, many students would have far fewer options.

So, thanks to everyone who runs a car wash, rummage sale, silent auction, charity football game or who just ponies up the cash to make these scholarships available. The future of the valley is in these young people’s hands, or will be soon, and investing in them is a wise move.

As I recall, when I rode my mom’s brontosaurus to my own high school graduation many years ago, my mind already was elsewhere. School was over, summer was starting, my next move would be to get out of L.A. and as far away from Mr. Marshall’s fifth-grade health class as possible. I didn’t spend much time cherishing the moment.

Now, I think it is beautiful that students and families stop and bask in graduation day.

On Friday, the father of a Justin-Siena student talked his way into the Register offices shortly after business hours. His daughter was pictured in a graduation embrace on the front page of that day’s paper, the grandparents were in town, and he wanted to deal out copies of the Register the way a new papa deals out cigars. It was nice to see that level of excitement, and wondrous to think it is multiplied by several thousand this week.

Congraduations, everyone.

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