JASMINE, CLASS OF '04
"American Idol" finalist Jasmine Trias graduated last night with her Maryknoll School classmates at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Trias graduates from
MaryknollThe isle "Idol" has a roped-off
section for visitors afterward
Jasmine Trias, who had feared she wouldn't make the ceremony because of the "American Idol" competition, graduated with her 2004 Maryknoll High School classmates at Neal Blaisdell concert hall last night.
Her father, Rudy, was the first to give Jasmine a hug and a lei, saying, "Finally!" The lei was the first of many.
Minutes after exiting the concert hall, Jasmine Trias was covered in leis and wore flotation devices -- graduation gifts -- around her waist.
Trias, wearing a maroon graduation gown, had her own section roped off outside the concert hall, where only close friends and relatives were allowed. Friends and fans gathered around the ropes, reaching over to give her a lei and to snap a quick photo.
"It's so surreal," she said. "I'm happy but I'm sad. I'm graduating, but I'm not going to see my friends for a while."
Trias is back for three weeks before she begins the American Idol Tour with the nine other finalists, including Maui's Camile Velasco. Trias finished third in the national Fox-TV singing competition last month.
"I'm trying to work out college and my singing career at the same time," she said. "Graduation is a big thing. 'American Idol' is a huge thing for me. It changed my life completely."
Jasmine Trias graduated last night with her Maryknoll School class at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. She was greeted by friends and fans outside. She posed for photos with fellow graduate Brian Klein.
In her three months competing in "American Idol," Trias had to balance singing and tutoring. She said studying in Los Angeles was "totally worth it" so that she could graduate last night.
Maryknoll School hired five police officers and required tickets for admission to the graduation because of the crowd expected to greet Trias, said Maryknoll teacher and former Principal Jared Kaufman. He said this was the first year the school required tickets for admission.
"This is to protect everyone, including all the other graduates," he said. "We've never had something like this before."
The 2004 graduating class of 138 is the largest in Maryknoll School history.
Trias wasn't able to walk around the Blaisdell lawn, but fellow graduates were happy to come to her.
"It's weird. I didn't think it would have a line to see her!" said classmate Samantha Bledsoe, waiting to give Trias a lei.
Trias fans also waited for their chance to congratulate her.
"Oh my gosh, she's coming," said 9-year-old Victoria Chang to her mother as Trias approached. "Mommy, take a picture. Is my hair OK?"
Maryknoll School spokeswoman Tina McNealey said Trias had her own section to keep the graduation as normal as possible for the other students.
After graduation, Trias joined her classmates for Project Graduation at Dave & Buster's and a secret location.
