Calling all Inland Empire High School Seniors for First Annual Pacific Islander High School Graduate Recognition Ceremony on May 11, 2018

San Bernardino, CA — High School Seniors of the Inland Empire are invited to participate in the first annual Inland Empire Pacific Islander High School Graduate Recognition Ceremony on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 6:30 to 8:00pm at the San Bernardino Valley College Greek Theatre.

Register to be a student graduate at the 1st Annual Inland Empire Pacific Islander High School Graduate Recognition Ceremony.

The cultural celebration will include live traditional Islander music, dance and history performances. The event is free and open to the public with a $10 fee for participating students who will receive a certificate from a local assembly member and a Pacific Islander graduation sash.

“We want to create an empowering event for our Pacific Islander youth in our community, by taking a day to celebrate each of them,” said Francine Blacksher, San Bernardino City Unified School District faculty.

Blacksher is currently recruiting all high school seniors who are graduating from Inland Empire schools (Riverside County, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario) and who identify as Pacific Islander (Polynesian, Micronesian, Melanesian and Filipinos that associate with being Pacific Islander) to participate in the cultural celebration.

“Pacific Islander youth are often underserved and are at risk for negative outcomes. This celebratory event is designed to honor our Pacific Islander students who have risen above such statistics and adversities,” said Blacksher. “We want to mentor them as they transition to college as many of them are the first in their families to earn a diploma and consider higher education.”

Educators and counselors with a Pacific Islander background from the San Bernardino City Unified School District Have come together in partnership with the National Black Grad and Team Hustle to present the 1st Annual Inland Empire Pacific Islander High School Graduate Recognition Ceremony.

Register to be a student graduate at the 1st Annual Inland Empire Pacific Islander High School Graduate Recognition Ceremony.