Tuesday, June 2, 2009

David's high school graduation

David, our 18-year-old grandson, graduated last Sunday from Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida. Cypress Bay is one of the largest high schools in the country with a student population of over 5,000.

David's class was the largest graduating class in the United States in 2009. Twelve hundred students gathered at the BankUnited Center (the University of Miami's basketball arena) in Coral Gables to receive their diplomas and the plaudits of family and friends.


Even in Miami, golf cars are used for a variety of purposes.


The graduating seniors begin to file into the arena.


As the arena filled up, some folks were allowed into the sky boxes.


The arena was about 2/3rds full, and I would guess that there were at least six or seven thousand people present.


As the last graduate came across the stage, caps were thrown into the air.


Because of the size of the crowd, it took some time for families to connect with their graduates after the ceremony. The next few photos are scenes of people waiting.




The American flag and the University of Miami flag wave gracefully over the lawn at the BankUnited Center.



This scenario gives a vision of the changing face of America. Weston, where Cypress Bay High School is located, is about evenly divided between Hispanic and Caucasian students with African-Americans, Asians and other ethnic groups mixed in.

The city of Miami is now over 70% Hispanic.

I have read where scholars predict that by 2050, Hispanics will be the majority ethnic group in the United States.

14 comments:

crocrodyl said...

Congratulations of graduating your grandson:)

Cezar and Léia said...

wow What a wonderful news!
Congratulations David !!!
All pictures are perfect and David looks great and happy!I'm very impressed with your information and "numbers of students there"!
My daughter is attending at High school and she will be graduated in the end of next year ( december/2010).Time goes so fast!
Certainly you and Lois Anne are very proud of him and it is a moment to celebrate!
By the way...did you buy some"special camera" like a graduate gift perhaps to encourage him to follow your steps!?
Wonderful post! Many thanks for sharing!
God bless you
Léia

Unknown said...

Congratulations, David! :-)

Anonymous said...

Congrats David! I'm so proud of you. That is a great photo of David and of the graduation events. With that many people, it must have taken many hours. You must be tired now..

elsa said...

Congratulations David!

cieldequimper said...

Félicitations ! Congrats! I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw... the golf cart! ;-)We have nothing like these graduation ceremonies. They just send us a piece of paper... I wonder where mine is...

Runner Girl said...

What a handsome grandson! Way to go, David!
Beautiful photos taken with great expertise!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Happy Graduation!

Lowell said...

Thank you all for your congratulations. I think David will be impressed! So far as I know, he's planning to attend a college in Pembroke Pines, Florida and perhaps pursue a degree in physical therapy.

Cezar and Leia - No, I did not buy him a camera...he doesn't seem much interested in photography at this stage of his life...maybe later.

~Cheryl said...

Hooray! What a super day for you and your family. I'm sure cell phones were a blessing to help connect.

Juergen Kuehn said...

Dear Jacob and Lois,
That's not only a great day in the life of David as a new stage of life starts. The whole family is happy and grandparants are eminently proud about that great event.
Congratulations!
To you and all of yours
Juergen & Gerdi

amber said...

wow david looks soo happy, good to see him that way! and as always great photos!

Lisa Wilson said...

Congrats to your grandson!! Living in a town of 2,000 people, I can't imagine a high school with over 5,000!!

Antjas said...

I would imagine the competition at the school is unbelievable when you think you only need 12 kids for a basketball team or 20 kids for a baseball team. Thanks for sharing. Glad to see he made it through with that gorgeous smile. Good luck with the PT. Nice to have one of those in the family.