Blair IB Magnet School Graduates 155

In a festive ceremony Tuesday evening, Blair IB Magnet School graduated 155 of its seniors.

Blair is an International Baccalaureate school that serves gifted students in grades 7 through 12. Students who are accepted to the middle or high school must adhere to a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum. To earn a high school diploma from Blair IB, students must complete a number of stringent academic requirements that include four years of a foreign language, four years of advanced math, and four years of advanced science. Students can also earn college credit before graduating high school through both the IB and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.

A crowd estimated at 2,000 packed Lake Avenue Church for Blair’s graduation ceremony and often broke out into applause and cheering as diplomas were given and various honors awarded to students.

The 2008 to 2009 school year principal was Rich Boccia, who led the crowd in a spirited chant of “0-9” before speaking at the graduation ceremony.

“Let me start by telling you how much I love you, how much I adore you, and how you’ll always have a warm place in my heart,” Boccia said to the graduating students. “I love you guys very, very much.”

Students replied by clapping, cheering, and yelling statements such as, “I love you!” and “We love you!”

“…We will always be bonded as family,” Boccia said.

Jose Palomares was named valedictorian of the Blair class of 2009, and he made a special point of thanking the teachers and staff from Blair during his speech.

“They’re the ones that have helped us grow and have taught us many lessons that will stay with us forever,” Palomares said.

Graduating Blair senior Johnny Cosio said in an interview that he was very happy to be awarded his Blair IB diploma.

“Hopefully everybody does [well] in the future,” Cosio said. “I hope to see everybody one day and see how they did.”

Craig Wilson, father of the newly graduated Lucas Wilson, said in an interview that he was glad his son spent four years at Blair.

“I think the environment was small and sensitive to his needs,” Wilson said. “I feel that he’s got a good education.”