![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Class of 2019 celebrates graduation at Mountain Winery
The class of 2019 toss their mortarboards in the air to celebrate their graduation yesterday at Mountain Winery. The commencement ceremony began at 5 p.m. and included speeches from valedictorian Kaushik Shivakumar (’19) and keynote speaker Judge John B. Owens (’85).
May 24, 2019
With a sprawling backdrop of the Stevens Creek Preserve nestled among layers of lush hills, the Class of 2019 graduated yesterday at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
Starting at 5 p.m, the ceremony lasted for two hours and include multiple performances and speakers, with members of the National Honor Society handing out programs to the audience members. Seniors decorated their graduation caps with school logos and colors before the event to display the colleges they were planning on attending, and the amphitheater was packed with friends and family, many of whom had brought along balloons, signs and bouquets of flowers while some even brought blown up pictures of a senior’s face.
The event began with a musical prelude by the upper School graduation orchestra conducted by director Dr. David Hart, followed by their rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar, which accompanied the seniors as they proceeded to their seats. The graduates were then followed by faculty, who took their seats onstage.
After a performance of Francis Scott Key’s “Star Spangled Banner” by choir groups Cantilena, Camarata, Downbeat and Bel Canto, who were directed by music teacher Jennifer Sandusky, 2019 valedictorian Kaushik Shivakumar delivered his farewell address to the seniors. His speech involved his experience in facilitating robotics workshops as well as references to scientific achievements while he spoke about his 13 years of experience at Harker and encouraged his peers to stay curious.
“I certainly hope this isn’t the last time we see each other, because saying goodbye isn’t going to be easy,” Kaushik said. “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be… the best we can possibly be is up to us, and only us. In that time, let’s be grateful and make the most of it.”
The keynote speaker this year was John B. Owens, a Harker alumnus from the class of 1985 who now works as a federal judge. Some memorable experiences he mentioned were joining lower school Primary Division Head Sarah Leonard’s class after attending a rough public school and having an eraser thrown at him by retired math teacher Pat Walsh.
Once the guest address had finished, the choir sang the Harker School Song, and Head of School Brian Yager addressed the seniors in a speech about the history of California and the Bay Area, specifically noting the writings of 19th century lawyer and politician Richard Henry Dana and the achievements of Walt Disney.
Row by row, the seniors enthusiastically lined up to the left of the stage to receive their diplomas. Once senior class dean and upper school math teacher Victor Adler called their names, they shook hands and received their diplomas from Head of School Brian Yager. As faculty began filing out of the venue, the graduation orchestra performed “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar once again, filling the amphitheater with ambient music as the ceremony came to a close.
With wide smiles, the seniors exchanged congratulations, bearing their diplomas proudly. Friends, family and faculty surrounded the new graduates, taking pictures and wishing each other the best of luck. Anna Wang (12) and Constance Horng (12) described the entire experience as “surreal,” and Mitchell Granados (12) advises underclassmen to “enjoy high school” and to not “stress about things you can’t control.”
“I’m feeling very, very happy and emotional that [Devanshi] has graduated from a great school, and she has made a lot of effort and hard work from the start, and I think she’ll carry [that] over to the next step in her life,” her mother, Rupali Mehta, said.
