Local high school grads honored with classic car parade
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A parade of classic cars lined up in downtown Santa Barbara on Sunday to honor two high school graduates for all their hard work and dedication over the years.
Angel Mateo is graduating Santa Barbara High School. He is the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college. The other graduate being honored is Eduardo “Eddy” Lugo. He's graduating from San Marcos High School as a middle college student. He was enrolled in college and high school though his junior and senior year.
"We couldn’t wipe the smile off his face no matter how many cheesy jokes I made," said Judith Lugo, Program Director, Santa Barbara Police Activities League referring to Angel Mateo. "And Eddy... as we walked towards the display of cars he held back his tears and asked, they came here just for us? They have worked so hard and never asked for any recognition."
The graduating class of 2020 will not receive their diplomas during a traditional graduation ceremony with family and friends cheering and waving signs because of the pandemic. Instead, some graduates are being honored in more creative ways. Mateo and Lugo, who enjoy classic cars, got the next best thing.
The classic car parade was organized by the Santa Barbara Police Activities League (PAL), The Montecito Motor Classic and Santa Barbara Cars & Coffee.
