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Concerted effort got stadium ready for graduation
RHS walk
Those attending Ripon High graduation for the Class of 2021 were greeted with the new walkway leading up to the stadium.

It took a concerted effort during the final stages of construction at the Ripon High football stadium to have the facility ready in time for graduation.

Andy Strickland remembers “a whirlwind of eight different trades” were there at one point at the RHS Bathrooms/Bleachers Project and the Gateway Project.

The latter consisted of a 14-foot-wide paved ADA-compliant walkway, spanning from Stouffer Field to North Acacia Avenue.

Strickland, who is the Director of Facilities Operations & Safety Services, said in in his report at last Monday’s Ripon Unified school board meeting that all went according to plans thanks to CT Brayton & Sons Construction.

“It was all well managed by CT Brayton,” he said.

The Escalon-based contractor was hired to head the construction at the stadium entryway and visitor-side bleachers to “not exceed $1.2 million.”

The Gateway Project was made possible by the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation, Strickland noted, with Paul Campbell handling the concrete work.

“Our guys helped with the landscape,” he added.

Landscape consisted of the installation of Bay Laurel trees along the freshly-sodded Bermuda grass. 

At the RHS graduation on May 28, RCAF along with RUSD marked the occasion with Superintendent Ziggy Robeson and RHS Principal Keith Rangel engaged in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

From there, they crossed the threshold of the RHS project signifying community pride joined by district dignitaries, teachers, counselors and the graduating Class of 2021.