Monthly Archives: June 2018

2018 Graduation: Will C. Wood High School Top Students – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Selena Alvarez

Highlights: Being in marching, jazz, Wind Ensemble, and making it into the Solano County Honor band all four years. Next year: Attending UC Davis. Career goal: Music teacher. In 10 years: I see myself continuing to make music.

Adilene Amezcua

Highlights: Being part of Link Crew, performing in the school orchestra, taking AP classes and being part of the Outdoor Adventure Club. Scholarships and awards: Cal grant and Pell grant as well as assistance from UC Davis. Next year: Attending UC Davis and majoring in genetics. Career goal: Genetics counselor or a clinical geneticist.

Source: 2018 Graduation: Will C. Wood High School Top Students

Armijo grad: ‘One milestone down, a lifetime to go’ – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

On one side of the chain-link fence stood about 500 graduates donning purple and gold caps and gowns.

On the other, a sea of humanity hoping to catch a glimpse of the family member and/or friend as they received their high school diploma from Armijo High School.

Joshua Vazquez, who wants to attend the University of California, Davis, got some last-minute wardrobe touch-ups from older sister Jennifer Vazquez, a member of the Armijo High Class of 2015.

She helped him adjust the brightly colored serape sash and another that featured the colors of Mexico. Then, it was picture time.

Source: Armijo grad: ‘One milestone down, a lifetime to go’

Students earn diplomas and start new adventures – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Fairfield-Suisun Adult School graduates were cheered by family and friends as they crossed the stage Friday at the Fairfield Community Center to receive there diplomas. After all, it was a celebration of a new chapter opening in their lives.

Principal James Woods was emcee for the ceremony. He thanked the families for helping the students reach their goals and achieve a GED.

“Some of you transported them, made meals for them, baby-sit children for them and all that helped them reach their goals,” he said.

The sentiment was not lost on the graduates themselves.

Source: Students earn diplomas and start new adventures

Vanden grads prepare to write next chapters in their lives – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Samara Jefferson has a story, but it was not hers she wanted to tell Friday at the 2018 Vanden High commencement ceremony on the school’s football field.

Instead, the class president – the past two years – told the stories of Tikamporn Wutthakul, who arrived in the U.S. from Thailand four years ago, and William Cornejo, an El Salvador native, and Christopher Stratton, who has cerebral palsy, and Keion Wade, who fell behind in his studies after his father, Keith, died his sophomore year. But Wade worked to get back from an alternative high school to graduate with his class.

None, statistically speaking, had better than a 60 percent chance of graduating on time, Jefferson said. But each was part of the 390-student class to receive their diplomas so they can continue their stories.

Source: Vanden grads prepare to write next chapters in their lives

Buckingham grads ready for future – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

With some mortarboards aglow with lights, a few with painted pictures and necks swathed in flowers, the graduates of Buckingham Charter Magnet High School officially crossed the threshold into adulthood Friday at The Mission church.

The school’s 24th commencement ceremony had a few tears, a lot of laughter and music to see the young adults off with a proper goodbye and hello.

Mentioned often by the speakers is the uniqueness of the graduating Class of 2018.

Principle Paul Tytler noted that these students choose to stand united in support of each other. He hoped that they took away from their four years of high school a confidence to speak from their hearts, compassion and courage to stand and endure.

Source: Buckingham grads ready for future

Wood grads accept diplomas for first time on home turf – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

For the first time since it became a high school, proud Will C. Wood graduates accepted their diplomas Friday on their home turf.

“Our own field, that is awesome,” graduate Jacob Gooding said.

Wood Principal Adam Rich heartily agreed, saying “it has been a long time coming for our students and it is wonderful that our alumni will get to see it.”

Clad in school colors, 358 graduating seniors stepped up to get their diplomas as friends and family cheered them on in a breezy Friday evening ceremony that had the stands on both sides of the recently completed Wildcat Stadium packed.

Source: Wood grads accept diplomas for first time on home turf

Fade to Black: Falcons grads soar high – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

One by one, graduates from schools throughout the region walked across the stage and collected their diplomas as the seniors at Fairfield High School watched and waited.

As one of the final schools in the area to graduate Friday night, the Falcons graduates would like to say they saved the best for last.

Principal Will Cushman suggested the Class of 2018 was saving the best for what’s next.

“Whatever path you choose, I promise you this won’t be the biggest moment of your life,” Cushman said, acknowledging the cliches that often highlight a high school graduation. “This is one great moment out of many, many great moments that life holds for you.”

Source: Fade to Black: Falcons grads soar high

2018 Graduation: Vacaville High School Top Students – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Highlights: Captaining the Vacaville High School Drumline, serving the community through Interact Service Club, and becoming a league cross country and golf champion this year. Scholarships and awards: Chinese American Association of Solano County Scholarship, United Parcel Service National Merit Scholarship, Rotary of Vacaville Presidential Scholarship, Saturday Club of Vacaville Scholarship, Grace B. Powell Scholarship and Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Scholarship. Eagle Scout Award with Bronze Palm, National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, California Boys State Representative and American Legion Post 165 School Medallion. Next year: Attending University of California, Berkeley this fall, majoring in chemical engineering. Career goal: Chemical engineer.

Source: 2018 Graduation: Vacaville High School Top Students

Vacaville High grads head off to new horizons – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Vacaville High School graduates were ushered out of high school Saturday and into adulthood, flanked by the teachers who helped them make it to graduation day.

Ron Thomas, the new principal, greeted students and parents to bid farewell to the graduating Class of 2018 and to Ed Santopadre, who has spent most of his career at Vacaville High.

“As your principal for little over a month, I have had to make many decisions but it is only fitting the man you met here your first day of Vaca High will be the man to see you off on your last day at Vaca High,” Thomas said.

Santopadre, assistant superintendent of educational services, took the stage to applause.

Source: Vacaville High grads head off to new horizons

Vanden High mural uses floral message to convey unity in diversity – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Vanden High School advance art students are leaving a lasting legacy to their campus.

More than 3,000 hours have been logged over the past six weeks to create a Unity in Diversity mural on the side of the arts and music building, visible from Markley Road. It measures 8 feet tall and 50 feet long.

Instructor David Draim was approached with the idea by fellow teacher Julie Rossi, who had seen other high school murals.

“I knew how much work (it would be),” Draim said.

Source: Vanden High mural uses floral message to convey unity in diversity

In historic first, Will C. Wood Class of 2018 bids adieu to school in the Wildcat Stadium – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The customary elements of an American high school graduation were in play: Elgar’s Fanfare and Processional as seniors in caps and gowns walked slowly to their chairs set up on a football field, the shouts and murmurs of families, relatives and friends of the graduates, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” welcoming and opening remarks by the principal, more music, a valedictorian’s speech, the handing out of diplomas, the skyward tossing of mortarboards, the newly minted graduates rushing toward parents, brothers and sisters for hugs, kisses, handshakes, and, of course, rounds of celebratory photos.

For Wood High’s class of 2018, however, what was remarkable was the setting, a historic one in the life of the 29-year-old Marshall Road campus that started out as a Vacaville middle school in 1969: The more than 360 seniors, clad in royal blue caps and gowns, who ended their fourth year of high school did it in a new, sparkling, $16 million stadium, a fact that, in many ways, pleasantly overshadowed nearly everything else during the Friday night commencement ceremony.

Source: In historic first, Will C. Wood Class of 2018 bids adieu to school in the Wildcat Stadium

Vallejo High School students walk into adulthood at 2018 graduation – Times Herald

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By John Glidden

A near capacity crowd inside Corbus Field early Thursday evening watched as about 300 Vallejo High School seniors transit into adulthood.

The ceremony was marked with reflection and giving thanks.

One of the two class salutatorians Loureen Ashley Madueno teared up while thanking the two people who got her to Thursday’s ceremony.

“Mama thank you for all the sacrifices — I don’t know where I would be without you. I promise to one day take care of you just like how you took care of me all of these years,” she said, attempting to hold back tears. “Papa – I wish you could be here with me right now but I know you are always watching over me.”

Madueno’s speech wasn’t all sad as she saved special thanks for Vallejo High School teacher Bruce Wilson.

“Who would have thought that the man who made us meditate everyday before class would be the one to stress us the hell out of afterwards,” she asked.

Source: Vallejo High School students walk into adulthood at 2018 graduation

‘End of the beginning’ for Rodriguez High School graduates – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

It’s fitting that the Rodriguez High School Class of 2018 chose for itself a quote by Winston Churchill related to a moment not being the beginning or the end but perhaps the end of the beginning.

These graduates recognized themselves as children of Y2K, formed by everything that has constructed the 21st century thus far.

The graduates also signify the end of the beginning in another way. The Rodriguez graduates are comprised of traditional high school students and 33 students from the associated Early College High School program – a hybrid high school-college program at Solano College.

Source: ‘End of the beginning’ for Rodriguez High School graduates

Students exchange group to sponsor Dine and Donate at Chipotle – The Reporter

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The 2018 Sister City student exchange group is sponsoring a Dine and Donate event from 5 to 9 p.m. June 16 at Chipotle, 1586 Gateway Blvd., Suite B, Fairfield.

Chipotle will donate 50 percent of the sale proceeds from each customer presenting a flier (either a paper copy or on a phone) when ordering; customers also can simply state they are there to support the Sister City program.

The student group is made up of six local high school students and their adult chaperone who will travel to Japan in July for a three-week stay in Fairfield’s Sister City, Nirasaki.

Source: Students exchange group to sponsor Dine and Donate at Chipotle

Public Safety Academy grads take step toward future – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

When graduating senior and Cadet Commander Samuel Perez joined the Public Safety Academy seven years ago, he was planning to enter law enforcement.

Now, on the verge of getting his diploma, the 18-year-old Class of 2018 PSA graduate plans to attend Humboldt State University this fall with the goal of entering politics.

“I have been waiting for this day for seven years,” Perez said, expressing a common sentiment of his peers shared at Thursday’s graduation ceremony.

Source: Public Safety Academy grads take step toward future

Expelled Vallejo student becomes graduating class of one – Times Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

It was a little bit of a nail-biter as the time for the Farragut Academy graduation ceremony to start came and went — without an appearance by the main focus.

The ceremony began without its star, but to the obvious delight of the principals of both Farragut and Vallejo High School, Arianna Whitfield eventually did arrive, with her family, and wearing the white robe of a graduating senior.

Wednesday’s ceremony came with a twist: Whitfield was the only graduate at the school, formerly called Vallejo Education Academy — the place of final chances for students expelled from other schools in the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Source: Expelled Vallejo student becomes graduating class of one

Career Technical Education in California – Public Policy Institute of California

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Career technical education is critical to meeting the state’s workforce needs.

If current trends continue, roughly one-third of new jobs in California will require some training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. Career technical education (CTE), also known as vocational training, connects students to these career opportunities by providing industry-based skills. In addition to improving career options in the short term, CTE can provide pathways to higher education; for example, about a third of high school CTE courses meet the admission requirements for California’s public four-year universities.

Public high schools and community colleges are the primary providers of CTE.

During the 2016–17 school year, close to 800,000 high school students (45%) enrolled in a CTE course. Arts and media courses are especially popular, as are CTE courses in information technology, agriculture, and health. At community colleges, nearly 420,000 students (35%) participated in CTE. Arts and media is once again the most popular industry sector, followed by education, business, health, and public services. While for-profit colleges also offer CTE training, enrollments have declined in recent years.

Source: Career Technical Education in California – Public Policy Institute of California

Fairfield-Suisun grad puts drive into future with car gift – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

As the late-night infomercials often say, “but wait, there’s more!”

The three graduates of the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy walked away Wednesday from their graduation day like most seniors – with a well-earned diploma in hand. But that wasn’t all.

One graduate, Asia Robinson, also left with a special gift thanks to the generosity of Fairfield resident MiLinnda Dalton, with the other two grads, C’Tara Dixson and Aunna Jimenez, leaving with what TV game shows might call, “valuable parting gifts” as well.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun grad puts drive into future with car gift

Small, determined class moves on from Matt Garcia academy – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

Life is rarely smooth sailing throughout.

Often, there are starts and stops, unforeseen obstacles. Such was the case Wednesday afternoon during the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy graduation ceremony at the Fairfield Civic Center’s Willow Hall.

Fairfield-Suisun School District Superintendent Kris Corey missed the ceremony as she was serving jury duty, student speaker Asia Robinson had to periodically pause her speech to manage her tears and C’Tara Dixson had to take time to deal with a pesky mortar board that refused to stay put.

But the defining trait of the three-person graduating class is one of determination and perseverance. And so the Class of 2018 carried on and eventually claimed the diplomas that signified the end of a long and sometimes trying odyssey.

Source: Small, determined class moves on from Matt Garcia academy

Sem Yeto grads ascend into futures they once could not see – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Each night as the sunlight thins, yet brightens the line of the horizon, many dream about what is beyond the descending curve of the day.

But high school graduates see a rising horizon, with ascending paths going out in many directions from which to choose.

Jazzmene MccBerry, a Sem Yeto senior from the Fairfield High School campus, told her classmates Wednesday night that she lacked focus, lacked self-esteem “and didn’t have any hope for a future.”

It mattered not to her how many paths were in front of her, because they all led nowhere.

Source: Sem Yeto grads ascend into futures they once could not see