MARYSVILLE — The combined graduates of Marysville Mountain View High School and the SOAR program added up to the school’s largest ever class, according to Mountain View Principal Dawn Bechtholdt.

Not all of the 34 Mountain View and 39 SOAR students in the Class of 2010 were able to attend their graduation ceremony at Cedarcrest Middle School June 16, but Bechtholdt praised them all, from those who had only attended a single semester at the school to those who qualified for “super-senior” status. She added that these students have had to adjust not only to the relocation of the SOAR program to the Mountain View campus, but also to a wide variety of adult responsibilities.

“You are mothers, fathers, wives, recruits, hosts and hostesses, artists, photographers, waiters, secretaries, retail salespeople, fast food workers and survivors of illness,” Bechtholdt said. “You work full-time and multiple part-time jobs, and combine parenting with your schooling, balancing your family responsibilities with your future goals.”

Alex Arellano, one of the school’s vocational students of the quarter, has raised a daughter in between attending classes. As he spoke to his classmates, he admitted that he hadn’t always believed that he would make it to graduation.

“We might not have pasts that we’re proud of, but we still made it,” Arellano said. “If you’re a little behind, you can get your butt in gear.”

Arellano praised the school and its staff for inspiring him to do just that, as he leapfrogged from summer school into multiple school activities, all while being “the best dad my daughter could have.” He thanked the school staff and his mother for their support and encouragement.

Classmate Jeremy Didrickson urged other students to avoid procrastinating, while fellow graduating student Michael Sharp reminded his peers that the school’s courses and their own life experiences had already helped prepare them for the post-graduate world of rent, food and clothing bills, and car payments.

Austin Hoerner noted that his high school career was dealt an unexpected blow when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2007.

“I struggled in the hospital and almost died of a blood infection,” Hoerner said. “The staff and students of this school helped me through the hard times. When I came back, I kind of felt like a celebrity, but it didn’t take long for things to go back to normal. I know we’re prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead.”