Huntington Beach High Oilers celebrate their class of 2021

On the same day that California celebrated reopening from the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of Huntington Beach High School seniors looked toward new beginnings of a different kind.

The Oilers held their graduation for the class of 2021 at Cap Sheue Field on Tuesday. There were 695 graduates in the school’s 115th graduating class, according to assistant principal Dave Yonts.

Huntington Beach was the first of the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s six high schools to graduate, with the remainder all scheduled for this week. The graduation had limited capacity per California Department of Public Health guidance; each graduate was issued two tickets.

A graduate celebrates during the Huntington Beach High School 2021 commencement ceremony on Tuesday, June 15.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

Senior class president Autumn Hornback addressed the graduates, and the ceremony also featured a performance by five seniors in the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts’ Music, Media and Entertainment Technology program. Christopher Roberts, Michael Rubly, Aimee Paulson, Zayne Brundage and Trent Bishop performed “Let’s Go Crazy” by the late musician Prince.

“We are very excited, as are our students, staff and parents, to be able to have a whole class in-person ceremony with guests,” Yonts said in an email.

Graduates toss their mortarboards during Huntington Beach High School 2021 commencement ceremony on Tuesday, June 15.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

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