Manteca High’s Class of 2016 went a bit heavy with the analogies Friday during graduation.
In her valedictorian addressed to the 340 or so receiving their diplomas at Guss Schmiedt Field, Si Jie ‘Jessica’ Tang indicated that Principal Frank Gonzales often referenced MHS to a Harvard University.
“Instead of Harvard, how about changing that to Yale?” she said.
It was an inside joke to those who were aware that Tang will be attending the latter of the Ivy League schools in the fall.
Salutatorian Edvin Pepic said his class was more like the sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread Nutella. “Like Nutella, you can’t spread yourself out too thin,” he said.
By that, Pepic believed that all of his classmates had their niche in life. “Nutella is always better when it’s spread just right,” he added.
Senior class President Raygan Both compared the events of the past four years to that of her specialty in track and field – the 400 meter run.
“Aug. 14, the gun goes off for our freshmen year,” she said. “As sophomores, we’re in the back stretch (of this race) and our pace widens – the classes get harder as we’re introduced to AP courses.
“Junior year, it’s time to pick up the pace as you begin to separate yourself from the others. Senior year and now we’re down the final stretch (all the time, hard work and dedication begin to pay off) and we can now see the finish line.”
Both also had the honors of leading those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. The MHS band led by Anthony Dahl played the Stars Spangled Banner, with graduating members of Mary Monaghan’s choir performing the National Anthem.
Advisor Denise Pasion announced the California Scholarship Federation Awards. “In 10 years, we went from 10 to 44 (CSF Lifetime) members,” she said.
Both, Tang, and Pepic were joined by the following: Freshta Abedi, Anthony Barrozo, Giselle Aranda, Taylor Bays, Francisco Cebreros, Gurpreet Chahil, Sovathyda Chea, Trevor Crippen, Kylie Cunningham, Taylor Davis, Sandra De La Riva, Harkamal Dhaliwal, Kassandra Diaz, Aakriti Dua, Matthew Eavenson, Morgan Gross, Kaitlyn Hoyer, Danika Hunt, Jessica Ibe, Kaitlyn Inderbitzin,  Naveen Jose, Summer Kirby, Samantha Klump, Brett Kovacs, Leah Manuleleua, Jacob Menasco, McKenna Offhaus, Mehtaabvir Pabla, Juliana Panera, Britney Pheng, Nicholas Pineda, Melanie Pio, Gabrielle Pitman, Jessica Rainey, Kyleigh Range, Marissa Ringwood, Jorge Rodriguez, Samuel Rohovit, Robin Singh, Braulio Ramirez, and Kyle Thornburg.
In addition, alumni of MHS at the commencement exercise were once again recognized.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.