Cultural pride runs into regalia rule at graduation May 20th 12:51 pm | Marc Lester, ADN
For the East High School graduation May 11, Melrose Meneses adorned her mortarboard with the golden sun of the flag of the Philippines. Mele Takafua wore a Tongan dress and a Fijian necklace. Daniel Mokom's unzipped gown revealed his embroidered shirt traditional to Cameroon. Amanda Yang's sash had a Hmong design. Ermelina Gonzalez also stood out among the mostly uniform blue caps and gowns on the football field. She said she felt privileged to graduate wearing a cap her mother beaded with a butterfly and flower design. Under her gown she wore the Athabaskan dress her mom wore at her own college graduation.