Pasadena Unified’s Class of 2026 celebrated for ‘resilience, empathy’
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Marshall teachers high five students during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Dr. Elizabeth Blanco speaks during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
The Chamber Orchestra performs during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Lori Touloumian poses for a picture with Leah Winn speaks during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Principal Lori Touloumian speaks during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Myles Lewis speaks during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Tyron Hampton speaks during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Zamairi Medina plays the flute during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
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Marshall teachers high five students during Thurgood Marshall Secondary School graduation ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena on Jun. 4, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)
Pasadena Unified School District celebrated its class of 2026 this week with five graduation ceremonies held inside the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The Center for Independent Study and Rose City High School along with Blair High School ceremonies were held Wednesday, June 3. John Muir, Thurgood Marshall and Pasadena high schools had their ceremonies on Thursday, June 4.
Later this month, PUSD will host a graduation ceremony for Twilight Adult Education.
In the face of immense public backlash led by parents and students from those two schools, the Board of Education voted against receiving a equity analysis report on potential mergers effectively ending the process that had been ongoing since January.
Blair High School graduates cross the stage during commencement at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Blair High School graduates celebrate their commencement ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Blair High School graduates celebrate with classmates following their commencement ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Blair High School valedictorian Lesley Chee delivers her commencement address at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Roman Favela celebrates with classmates after Blair High School’s commencement ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Blair High School graduates celebrate their commencement ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Blair High School graduates take photos with classmates after their commencement at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
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Blair High School graduates cross the stage during commencement at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 3, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Both schools’ ceremonies did not dwell on a spring of intense meetings and fear over their schools closing. Students were greeted with raucous applause and cheers from the packed auditorium.
“Class of 2026, we made it,” Blair High School Valedictorian Lesley Chee said. “That might sound cliché for a graduation speech but there were definitely moments where that felt statistically unlikely. Through global pandemics, devastating fires, the at times terrifying political climate we faced and talks of school consolidations, life has constantly reminded us that nothing is guaranteed and yet somehow we still made it here tonight, together.”
The next day at the Marshall ceremony, Principal Lor Touloumian also commended the class of 2026 for weathering the storms of, “the disruption due to COVID closures, the devastation and impact of the Eaton fire or concerns surrounding school consolidation.”
“You consistently demonstrated resilience, empathy, leadership and strength,” Touloumian said.
