Newport Harbor’s 2021 Sailors set sail at Davidson Field for graduation

It’s anchors aweigh for Newport Harbor’s newest crop of graduating seniors Thursday.

Principal Sean Boulton said that 550 seniors received their diplomas this year, making this the 90th graduating class since the school was founded in 1930. Everything was par for the course this graduation, differing from that of last year’s in that this year’s celebration was in-person — albeit with a few less people and a few more masks.

The district announced in April that it would be holding in-person commencement ceremonies. Students would be able to bring up to four people and the graduations would be livestreamed to those who could not or did not want to attend physically.

Mason Depoy, right, hugs a fellow graduate during the Newport Harbor 2021 graduation ceremony.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

Guests in attendance shouted out the names of their respective students, clapping and cheering as online commentators also offered their congratulations to the new graduates in the livestream.

Prescott Cook-Speech also offered his thoughts to his fellow classmates as part of the ceremony Thursday evening.

In an email, Boulton said, “The tower at [Newport Harbor High School] symbolizes renewal, resilience and hope. It also symbolizes safe harbor-all our graduates this year are emblematic of the tower as they have been a symbol of renewal, resilience, and hope.

“I also know the class of 2021 will always look at NHHS as their ‘safe harbor.’”

Ava Gonzalez shows her diploma during the Newport Harbor 2021 graduation ceremony.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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