Students hang out celebrity-style in the gym at Live Oak during the Hollywood-themed Grad Night.
More than 350 graduates partied all night at graduation night celebrations after the graduation ceremonies at Live Oak and Sobrato high schools June 6.
For the second year, Ann Sobrato High School held its celebration at the Livermore amusement park Boomers. Live Oak High School held its 21st graduation night at the school's gym. About 180 teens attended Sobrato's celebration, held from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. following graduation. About 175 teens attended Live Oak's celebration, held from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Among the activities available to the students for Sobrato's overnight party were sumo wrestling, jostling and a Velcro wall.
"You put on a suit and then try to attach yourself to the wall as high as possible," Sobrato parent Lucinda Lawson said, laughing. "And then you'd have to pry yourself off."
Sobrato's graduation night tickets started from $75 to $120. At Live Oak, tickets ranged from $60 to $100.
"We tried to keep costs as low as possible," Lawson said.
For their celebration, Live Oak High School's Graduation Night Committee stuck with the tried-and-true campus gym.
"They spent four years doing activities there so it's familiar ground, but very different," said committee member Adrienne Acosta.
The floors, ceilings and walls at the gym are covered to transform the area to fit the year's theme. This year, that theme was Hollywood, complete with a Chinese Theater façade, spotlights, a walk of fame and other glamorous effects.
Matt Acosta said the night got pretty competitive, and he won $50 from his mom after climbing up a rock wall, one of the outside features of Live Oak's Grad Night.
That wasn't the only way Acosta scored cash that night - he also played casino games like roulette.
Live Oaks' menu included tri-tip sandwiches, chili, wings, chips, pizza and a chocolate fondue fountain. Sobrato's food included sandwiches, pizza and bagels.
Both Acosta and Lawson said the graduation nights this year were a challenge, since Live Oak's class size was about half what it was in 2006, while Sobrato's was double what it was in 2007. Last year was the first year Sobrato had a graduation.
Natalie Everett
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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