Delta High School Pauses Commencement Ceremony For Students Who Died In Crash

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) - Students of Delta High School are now graduates in the class of 2026.

Commencement was marked by a moment of silence for those lost during the year, some in Sunday’s crash.

District officials confirmed two students were Delta High alumnus, and another was currently enrolled in a Delta High program, but was not part of this year's graduating class.

Chairs were set to the side of the stage to mark their memory.

Despite the tragedy, Delta’s commencement ceremony was a celebration of nearly 350 students and their milestone accomplishment.

Senior graduation speaker Jae Rojas says the school staff did a good job handling this commencement week in the wake of tragedy.

They also say they’re proud of their classmates having accomplished this milestone.

“They did a very good job on, you know, going up there and representing them and their families,” says Delta graduate Jae Rojas. “I think they did an amazing job. Better than most schools. I'm very proud of them. I think they're all going to go into life and doing a bunch of amazing stuff. And they do have so much peace and prosperity. I wish them the best out there.”

Family and friends packed the Righetti High School stadium and cheered their students’ acceptance of their diplomas.

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