Students in emerald-green robes and glitter-covered caps took selfies and clustered together in groups, some decked out in colorful leis, others adorned with cords and tassels.
The slowly setting sun seemed to mirror the ending these 17- and 18-year-olds were experiencing. Ready or not, in a few minutes they would walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.
Waiting on the other side of the field was Coronado High School graduate Leslie Gaffrey Brazier — but from the Class of 1976.
This year, she and eight other alumni returned to campus to receive 50-year honorary diplomas. Instead of 17 and 18 years old, they were now in their late 60s, with spouses, children, careers and decades of life experience behind them.
Fifty years separated the Class of 1976 from the Class of 2026, but both groups arrived at the same milestone — one looking back on their time as teens, the other looking ahead to an uncertain future.
The Apple computer company was founded in 1976. Jimmy Carter won the presidential election. “Rocky” was a box office smash.
“Times were truly innocent back then,” Brazier said.
After graduating in 1976, the Coronado native planned to pursue theater and music but instead built a career in finance, retiring four years ago as a chief financial officer while continuing to sing classical music.
“At 18 I don’t think I thought that would be my path, but I never shied away from trying something new,” she said.
Like Brazier, many of her classmates found themselves on unexpected paths in the decades after graduation, building careers that ranged from aviation to counseling to military service.
Yet many have remained close and still gather for reunions every five years. Before the ceremony, they chatted, laughed and reminisced about senior ditch day and days at the beach.
“The essence of who we were as classmates is still there,” she said. “We just care about one another. There’s a real true love for each other.”
While Brazier reflected on friendships that have lasted half a century, members of the Class of 2026 were focused on the next chapter of their lives.
“I’m going to Brown,” graduate Sydney Dunn said after taking photos with her friend.
“We’re going coast to coast, but at least we’ll be near each other,” Dunn said, pointing to her friend Maria Anaya, who said she will attend Yale.
Mason Gibbs plans to attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to study petroleum engineering.
“I’m super excited,” Gibbs said. “I’ve been with these guys for the past four years, and it’s going to suck leaving them, but I’m excited for the next chapter.”
A couple of girls lingered near the sidelines. One was Malia Gunnarson, with dyed red hair; the other was Roxy Langevin, wearing dark eyeliner.
“Goodbye high school. I’m done,” Gunnarson said, laughing.
Langevin smiled and said she was excited to graduate and would be attending USC.
As the night progressed, so did the speeches. Principal Karin Mellina, senior class president Savannah McCauley, teacher Tam Hoang, valedictorians Daniel Vinegrad and Dhara Jost, salutatorian Morgan Maske, and Superintendent Karl Mueller each took the stage.
Their remarks reflected on the high school experience and encouraged graduates to prepare for the future.
But Mellina urged students to stay present: “So tonight, don’t rush. Don’t scroll. Don’t think about tomorrow. Just look around, listen, laugh, cry if you need to, hug someone a little longer, say, ‘Thank you,’ say, ‘I love you,’ say nothing at all.”
As the ceremony concluded, many graduates did exactly that. In a familiar graduation ritual, caps flew into the air as family members and friends embraced on the field.
For the Class of 2026, the moment marked the end of high school. For Brazier and her fellow alumni, it was a reminder of how quickly the years can pass.
