More than 2,500 incoming Santa Maria High School students attended the school's eighth annual "March of the Saints" program on the football field Friday morning.
The event featured multiple booths with alumni from colleges and universities across the country, school clubs and sports demonstrations.
These highlights are meant to help students become successful in their current and post-high school endeavors and step outside of their comfort zone by meeting new people.
"We want them to have a buy-in to the school to have a piece of the school and have pride in the school, so usually by being a member of an organization or club, they can have some kind of buy-in to be a part of the school," said math teacher Doug Silva.
Steve Campbell, the principal of Santa Maria High School, said the program has become a tradition for returning students and alumni to give a warm welcome to incoming Saints.
"The alumni make our students believe they can live up to their potentials and accomplish great things," said Campbell.
The Active Alumni Academia, a non-profit organization that provides college and career support to Santa Maria High School students and alumni, hosted and coordinated the event.
