Class of 1965 members will be special guests at Cordova High School’s 2025 commencement ceremonies on May 30. From left are Tom Alexander, Cindy Moler, April Krause and Dennis Trainor. Courtesy photo

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - When Cordova High School’s 2025 Senior class graduates May 30 at Cordova Stadium, a group of notable guests will be there to give special well-wishes: several members of the school’s first graduating Class of 1965.

Cordova High School Principal Amy Strawn said she is fully on board and recognizes the importance of giving a bow to Cordova’s storied past.

“I love this,” Strawn said. “We have several great traditions and one of them is keeping our alumni connected to the school.” 

The idea to include Cordova High School’s first graduating class is the brainchild of Dennis Trainor, a 1965 alum who, along with several other classmates, approached Strawn earlier this year.

“We thought it would be a great, more than 60 years of tradition to share with the Class of 2025, so we asked for a meeting with Cordova’s principal,” said Trainor who was accompanied by Bob Kidd, Mike Krause and April Krause.

Said Strawn: “They brought in photographs and mementos of what Cordova looked like when it opened back in 1963. It was really fun to go down memory lane with all of them.”

April Krause of the 1965 group said: “We are very much looking forward to this. Times may have changed but the message of hope and connection is still the same.”

The 1965 crew will be graced with priority seating near school faculty, other local dignitaries and city officials and wear traditional black graduation gowns. Krause will share a message of hope and wisdom seen through a looking glass of more than 60 years.

“Keep in touch with all your friends and don’t base the entirety of the rest of your life on what your high school experience was like because it can change radically,” Krause said.

Helping bring traditions to life is right in Krause’s wheelhouse. She is actively at the forefront of all reunion and alumni activities for the Class of 1965 and exudes a unique strength: unobtrusively bringing classmates together by affirming the talents and accomplishments of others.

April Krause fondly recalls that first commencement ceremony back on June 11, 1965. Because there was no football stadium, several hundred family and friends jammed into the school gymnasium to watch 300-plus students graduate. There were student-speakers: Janis Abbadusky was class president. Linda Brown was valedictorian and Steve Johnson was salutatorian. About a half-dozen local pastors were involved and there was a Baccalaureate ceremony a few nights before at a local church.

“Most of us grew up nearby. We either walked to school or rode our bikes.  I think there were 10, maybe 12 students who had cars,” Krause recalled. “I lived on Malaga Way. I didn’t get my first car until I was 19.”

The “65’ers” have a special kinship with the high school. Each fall, they are well-represented during Cordova High’s annual Homecoming football game. And last year, Trainor and Mike Krause refurbished the Cordova High School Spirit Shield that was found after a 38-year absence. The Spirit Shield now is in the Cordova High awards case at Rancho Cordova City Hall.

“Roots matter, I think,” said Aprils Krause. “Friendships, old and new, remind us of all of the connectivity of life and the many changes and challenges that affect all of us.”

Changes that 60-plus years of history will lay the foundation for tomorrow with a bow from yesterday.

The Class of 1965 will hold its 60th class reunion from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Hagan Park Community Center. According to Krause, there will be a no-host bar, light hors d’oeuvres and live music. Krause can be reached at [email protected] for further information.

Mike Marando is a 1973 Cordova High School graduate, former sportswriter and the Rancho Sports Hall of Fame president.