Ulysses S. Grant High School celebrated its graduating class of 2023 at 6 p.m. June 8 at the school’s football stadium in Valley Glen.
The 380 graduates were cheered by family and friends as they walked in procession for the final time at the “Home of the Lancers.”
The keynote speaker was Bill Foster, a teacher and coach for 41 years at Grant High School. Foster has been the athletic director and, in recent times, the assistant athletic director. He will be coaching the school’s tennis team this summer during his retirement.
The school’s 2023 valedictorian, Sarkis Bagdasaryan, gave an inspiring valedictorian speech and Kristina Pilosyan, also a graduate, gave an upbeat and moving student speech — both to appreciative applause.
“We have many home languages at Grant High School, and we feature greetings and welcomes in multiple home languages by our graduates,” wrote Grant High School Principal Rebecca McMurrin in an email about a graduation tradition at the school.
“This year we have speakers offering welcomes in French, Farsi, German, Russian, Armenian, Spanish and more.”
Grant High School has two magnets, College Prep/Digital Arts, and Humanities Magnet for Interdisciplinary Studies. It also has a School for Advanced Studies/AP Readiness Program. The school, that opened in 1959 for grades 10-12, is across the street from Los Angeles Valley College.
Fun fact: Actors, athletes, musicians and politicians are among the school’s graduates and their names may be found at Los Angeles Unified School District’s Alumni History and Hall of Fame Project here: bit.ly/3fKTX0p
Ulysses S. Grant High School, 13000 Oxnard St., Valley Glen. 818-756-2700. granths.org
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