GHS graduates experience countries around the world at event
following ceremony
By Deliah Deleon Special to the Dispatch
Gilroy – It is their world, after all.
After accepting their diplomas, the Gilroy High School class of 2006 spent the night traveling from city to city, all while never leaving the school gyms.
The Grad Night theme this year was “It’s Your World,”
Both of the gymnasiums were decorated so students could get the complete experience of being in a world-class city. The staff begun decorating June 14, and finished decorating the day before Friday’s graduation ceremony.
“My favorite part of Grad Night was the whole surrounding, everything looked great,” said Dominik Wilkins.
The entrance to the gym was decorated to resemble the lobby of an airport, including a baggage claim area. The restrooms were decorated to resemble the inside of a plane, though they were larger than the real facilities. Enter, sit and close the door behind you, and on the back of the door is a picture of the back of a seat in a plane. To the side of you is a picture of a window with the scenery of clouds in the sky.
Throughout the walkway of the entrance to the gym are roadsigns, signifying road bumps you might encounter during your travel. Then as you enter the gym, your journey begins with a cable car through Italy and eventually into Asia, where there was the food area and activities such as Sumo wrestling.
“It was awesome to participate in the Sumo wrestling, even though it was kind of hot in the suits,” said Casandra Mane.
Following China, you enter Mexico, where there bungee bullriding was a favorite. One student would wear a helmet and try to stay on the bull, while four other students would pull on ropes that moved around the bull.
“I just wanted to try everything, it was fun and something different. I liked that your friends got to pull on it so you don’t know how fast it’s going to go,” said Nichole Parker.
The casino area was where students could play poker, and other card games, as well as the most popular activity of Grad Night, the Cash Cube. This year, a second cube was added to provide a better opportunity for all students to participate.
“Last year, there was a very long line for the Cash Cube, and many students didn’t have the opportunity to participate in it, so this year we added a second one. We budgeted a certain amount of money to put in the Cash Cube to give back to the kids,” said Mia Delorenzo, a senior parent in charge of Grad Night.
The next activity on the trip was Game Show Media, featuring the popular game show Jeopardy. Shelly Haluza was one of the winners of Jeopardy that night.
“I was always really good at game shows, so I decided to participate,” said Haluza. The winner received a free movie ticket to Platinum Theatres.
As seniors exited the smaller gym, they entered GHS’s main gym into Germany, where a D.J. was playing music and kids were dancing. Paris came next, and it featured the Eiffel Tower, where Gavilan College Cosmetology students volunteered to do make-overs for the graduates.
“I wanted to do the make-over because it’s something I have never done before and tonight is the night to do something I’ve never done before,” said Sarah Welka.
Following Paris was the Bahamas, where smoothies were sold and kids played live Foozeball.
As the students exited the main gym, they found bungee trampoline located just outside.
“The bungee trampoline was insane! The best part was the flips, I did two, it was awesome,” said Carlos Pantoja.
This year’s ticket sales goal was 200, and organizers said they came close.
“We sold 135 tickets prior to Grad Night, and sold at least 50 to 60 at the door,” said Delorenzo. “My favorite part was ticket sales. It was great to see the kids face to face and see them excited to buy their tickets, and to hear them wanting to know the theme.”
