For the first time, Arlington Public Schools has hosted a summer graduation ceremony honoring the achievements of 39 high school seniors.
The students, representing all the county’s public schools, completed final diploma requirements during the school system’s four-week summer school program.
“Falling behind doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It simply means your story is unfolding at its own pace,” said Helen Morataya Centeno, a Yorktown High School student who received her diploma during the July 30 ceremony at Wakefield High School.
“Every single person in this room has a different story,” Morataya Centeno continued, speaking on behalf of graduates at the ceremony. “For many of us, this wasn’t a graduation we imagined. Each of us arrived through our own unique circumstances and challenges.”
She added:
“We had to fight for this moment. We never gave up. We kept showing up, pushing ourselves even when it felt impossible. We proved that success doesn’t have a deadline.”
The idea for the ceremony came from Jeffrey Stahl, Wakefield’s college and career counselor, and coordinator of the school’s summer program.
“We had the pleasure of coming together and we’re really pleased to be with you today,” he told graduating students.
“One of the things I really enjoy [during summer school] is getting to meet students from all different schools across APS,” Stahl said. “It’s always interesting.”
School Board Chair Miranda Turner urged students to maintain the perseverance they showed in achieving graduation.
“Remember what it took to get here today,” she said. “Continue to work hard, dedicate yourself to your goals and never stop learning.”
Turner also asked the graduates to give a “thank you to everyone for believing in our students, for encouraging them to make it to this day, and for helping them to get here.”
Superintendent Francisco Durán said the students should be proud to be in the inaugural group of summer graduates.
“There will be more to come,” he said. “Other students will follow this path, because they see it was possible.”
“The fact that you’re sitting here today tells me you can do whatever it is you set your mind to,” Durán told the new graduates. “You can make the next journey what you want it to be.”
Other APS graduation ceremonies, with a combined total of 1,900 students, were held in June. All 2026 ceremonies can be found online.
