Graduation Is A 'Dear Tesoro' Kind of Day

By Martin Henderson

When Tesoro High groundbreaking took place on the site off Oso Parkway in Las Flores, Ryan Putman was just a tyke wearing a shirt that read "Tesoro 2013" on it. But there he was, pictured alongside Dr. Daniel Burch amid the foothills and shovels and dirt that became the iconic photo of the event more than a dozen years ago.

The school opened in 2001, and Putman went about his education.

Tuesday night at the school's commencement exercises at Orange Coast College, Putman was the 604th and last name called to the stage. He took his diploma and walked down a ramp where Burch—who is retiring with this class after being the founding principal—delivered his 604th hug of the evening. Then he handed Putman a pint-sized shirt—same as he wore more than a decade ago—that he held aloft for the thousands in attendance.

When the high school seniors dressed in blue, white and one red gown turned their tassels from the right side of their cap to the left, they were officially alumni—the school's 10th graduating class.

The one red cap and gown belonged to valedictorian Alexandra Ivanov, who delivered a humorous address that began "Dear Tesoro." She then proceeded to read her "Dear John" letter to the school that had been her beau for the past four years.

"Tesoro, I'm breaking up with you," Ivanov said. "I met someone else. His name is MIT. I'm moving to Boston. ..."

Hers is but one of hundreds of stories told Tuesday, and in years to come.

Check the video highlights for more than a hundred photos from the Tesoro graduation, and check back later for additional video/photos.