Winters Express Graduation Edition June 8, 2022

CELEBRATING WINTERS CLASS OF 2022

Class of 2022 sustains community through challenges

By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

As the Class of 2022 gets ready to embark on life’s next adventure, it’s important to reflect on the highlights and challenges these resilient, young adults faced in their last high school year.

As if teenaged years and school weren’t difficult enough to contend with, the Class of 2022 also had to endure a pandemic. Lives, curriculums and the ‘high school experience’ in general were irrevocably changed. For Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy lead teacher Greg Wade, redirecting course towards — relative — normalcy was a challenge unto itself.

“That was the main challenge, trying to re-educate kids that school is a normal part of life,” said Wade. “I had no idea how much socioemotional learning was actually going on, on campuses until kids were deprived of a year of that. Just sitting at home, allegedly participating on their computers. It was just devastating to the wellbeing of our kids. So, when they came back to school, they were not the way they’d been.”

Wade had a host of challenges to take on himself as he assumed the role as lead teacher at the CRA this year. Challenges abound, there were far more highlights for the CRA Class of 2022 to take pride in.

“We’ve had quite a few graduates this year. Elev-

en graduated at the winter ceremony and we’re slated for eight for the spring ceremony. We’re proud to have this many kids graduating the first year back from dis-

tanced learning which was an incredible challenge,” said Wade. “Also, every semester we have three stars. The Rising Star, Shining Star and Super Star. Six

kids were awarded those titles during the year. The Rising Star shows academic brilliance for the first time, the Shining Star is for academic achievement and the Super Star is for academics and citizenship. We’re always proud of our students who earn these awards as well.”

The challenges were no different for the Winters High School Class of 2022. Dances and rallies were held outside, sports were interrupted on the whim of a positive COVID case, and

LEFT: The Class of 2022 celebrates by tossing their graduate caps in the air.

BELOW: ASB President Calista Cardinale walks to the podium to accept her diploma.

Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express

“What stood out to me as a highlight of the year was just being able to see the Senior Capstone presentations. The last time we saw that was 2019, so it was great to go in there and see what kids have worked on and do their presentations.”

Marcella Heredia, WHS counselor

so on. Through the adversity, however, the Warrior resolve was never more prominent.

“Young people, like the 16, 17 and 18 year olds are a lot tougher than I sometimes give them credit for,” said WHS counselor Marcella Heredia. “What stood out to me as a highlight of the year was just being able to see the Senior Capstone presentations. The last time we saw that was 2019, so it was great to go in there and see what kids have worked on and do their presentations.”

As ready as the students were to return to educational norms, so were the teachers and staff. Even with the abundance of difficulties presented by the pandemic, the students and staff persevered and need sunglasses as they reflect on the silver linings of the past year which are

bright and abundant.

“It was nice just seeing kids do whatever they could to help others out, like starting new clubs or planning small events or sending nice thoughts and well-wishes to other students. All these things ring true to Winters being the town that it is and the people that we grow here,” said WHS principal John Barsotti.

“When I think about this group, they’ve had to go through the shutting down and gradually reopening up of school and that does show a lot of resilience. They really did stick together and there’s been — especially from this senior group — a nice sense of community amongst them on our campus. That’s something they should be recognized

“It was nice just seeing kids do whatever they could to help others out, like starting new clubs or planning small events or sending nice thoughts and well-wishes to other students. All these things ring true to Winters being the town that it is and the people that we grow here.”

WHS principal John Barsotti

for.”

Every generation has its trials and tribulations. For the Class of 2022, they endured a pandemic as sophomores and juniors, were able to preserve and sustain a sense of community, and came out on top their senior year. If anything, they serve as an example of how we all can get through the toughest times — together.

Emily Aguiar

Adamary Alanis

Haley Archibeque Marianna Arredondo Reyes

Joseph Aguiar

Berenise Alvarez Valadez

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express Winters Police Department officers celebrate police cadet Veronica Soria’s graduation.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Matt Moore and Logan Spears celebrate their graduation on the football field following the ceremony.

Anahy Avina Jacob Baker Ensley Barbosa Andrea Avina Oscar Barajas

Young WHS trailblazers to keep an eye on

By Crystal Apilado

Editor-in-Chief

Winters High School is not the biggest school, but between the clubs and pathways offered there are multiple opportunities for students to forge into upand-coming leaders.

WHS staff shared their insights on young leaders from the Class of 2022.

Educator Jessica Williams said Joanna Cuevas is a student who has shown incredible dedication to her academics, demonstrates responsibility in her work ethic and her leadership skills. Cuevas is a second year AVID student and an athlete as well.

“Since joining AVID, she has shown incredible dedication to her academics. She leads her in-class study group and never hesitates to help other students,” Jessica said. “She goes above and beyond when asked to complete a task, often taking the initiative to do more than asked. Joanna is kind and generous — I’m lucky to have had her as a student.”

Educator and Robotics

Advisor Dianne Halsey called Celeste Garcia Rodarte an exceptional student and human who seizes opportunities, and is a solid citizen.

Music educator Mike Williams gave praise for Erika Contreras Ramirez, Kyera McFarland and Melesio Perez Jr.

Mike gave credit to Contreras Ramirez’s and said her hard work and determination was integral to the band’s success this year.

“She can always be counted on to perform at her best and to assist others in performing to theirs. She was our featured soloist during the spring concert and did an awesome job,” Mike said.

Mike said Perez’s skill as a percussionist was vital to the success of the WHS band this year.

“He could always be relied upon during concerts, football games and parades to do his best and raise the level of the group’s perfor-

mance,” Mike said.

McFarland was an outstanding performer in both band and choir this year, according to Mike.

“Her talent and work

ethic were constantly on display and was a positive inspiration to all those in the group,” Mike said.

Kayla Roberts, FFA advisor and ag educator, said

that when you think of the Winters FFA you probably think of Joe Aguiar

“Joe lives out his family’s legacy with pride. He is a servant leader, passionate about agriculture and enjoys developing leaders,” Roberts said. “Joe has grown into a wonderful leader here in the Winters FFA. He is kind, inclusive, hard working and dedicated. We are proud to have been led by Joe as our President this year and we can not wait to see all he achieves at Cal Poly.”

Roberts called Emmett Edman a humble leader who is very dedicated to the FFA organization.

“He is always willing to do the dirty work to get a job done. Emmett doesn’t shy away from a challenge and has pushed himself to grow into a more engaging speaker and officer,” Roberts said. “I have seen Emmett develop tremendously this year. One of Emmett’s best qualities is his determination. When he says he is going to do something — he gets it done, no matter what. Emmett’s drive and determination have influenced those around him and we can’t wait to see all he achieves at Yuba College.”

Roberts said Kaden Tuttle’s creativity and enthusiasm make him an incredibly engaging leader.

“People want to be around Kaden and share their ideas with him. He is encouraging to all, accepting of everyone and is the type of leader every organization needs. Kaden has grown into an incredible public speaker and is a wonderful advocate for the agriculture industry,” Roberts said.

ASB President Calista Cardinale has dedicated four years of her time, energy, and spirit to the WHS campus.

“I have been so impressed by her willingness to step up as a leader both in and outside of the classroom. She chaired committees, stayed late working on rallies, dances, and hallway decorating, led student discussions, was a member of the school’s Site Council, painted countless posters, and problem-solved like a pro. I am so proud to have been able to call her my student and ‘go-to’ for all things student leadership. I’m so proud of her,” said Courtney Casavecchia, educator and Activities Director.

Sierra Berry Erika Contreras Ramirez

Shelby Boykin

Calista Cardinale Alexis Biasi Sofia Chavez

Courtesy photos

ABOVE: ASB President Calista Cardinale has dedicated four years of her time, energy and spirit to the WHS campus. BELOW: Celeste Garcia Rodarte leads Winters Robotics Team at VEX Robotics, “The Largest Robotics Competition in the World.”

Courtesy photo

Kayla Roberts, FFA advisor and ag educator, called Emmett Edman, right, a humble leader who is very dedicated to the FFA organization. Roberts said Kaden Tuttle’s creativity and enthusiasm make him an incredibly engaging leader.

WHS Class of 2022 academic achievements

Winters Express

At the annual Winters High School graduation ceremony, students who have earned academic achievements were recognized for their hard work and efforts.

Valedictorians

The following students are this year’s WHS Class of 2022 Valedictorians: Emily Aguiar, Joseph Aguiar, Celeste Garcia Rodarte and Easton Rivera

State Seal of Biliteracy

The following students are this year’s recipients of the State Seal of Biliteracy. The honor is a recognition bestowed upon them by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

for attaining a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. Requirements are: Must pass English 9-12 with a 2.00 or better; Receive a score of Standard Met or Standard Exceeded on ELA portion of SBAC test during 11th grade; Passed an AP Spanish test with a score of three or better OR passed four years of Spanish with 3.00 or better.

The following students are recipients of the State Seal of Biliteracy: Adamary Alanis, Sofia Chavez, Joanna Del Toro and Eduardo Fierros.

Golden State Merit Diploma

The Golden State Seal

Merit Diploma was established in 1997 and provides recognition to high school graduates who have demonstrated mastery of the high school curriculum in at least six subject matter areas, four of which are English-language arts, mathematics, science and U.S. history and two additional subject matter areas. The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma is awarded jointly by the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The following students are recipients of the Golden State Merit Diploma: Emily Aguiar, Joe Aguiar, Adamary Alanis, Ensley Barbosa, Sierra Berry, Shelby Boykin, Calista

Cardinale, Eduardo Fierros, Atanacio Garcia, Celeste Garcia, Ian McCrary, Conner Ray, Easton Rivera, Grayson Roberts, Jo zlyn Rooney, Ry lie Schroeder, Logan Spears, Spencer Stewart, Mia Trejakov, Kaden Tuttle and Diego

Valencia

California Scholarship Federation Lifetime Members

The following students earned lifetime membership status with the California Scholarship Federation. They have all held As and Bs in higher level

classes throughout high school. They will wear yellow stoles and tassels at graduation.

The following students were awarded CSF Lifetime membership awards: Emily Aguiar, Joseph Aguiar, Adamary Alanis, Ensley Barbosa, Sierra Berry, Shelby Boykin, Calista Cardinale, Atanacio Garcia, Celeste Garcia Rodarte, Easton Rivera, Grayson Roberts, Rylie Schroeder, Diego Valencia.

WHS Class of 2022 scholarship recipients

Winters Express

Congratulations to the following Winters High School Class of 2022 scholarship recipients.

• Adam Davis Memorial: Evan Davis $2,000

• American Legion Yolo Post 77: Easton Rivera $2,000

• Autos for Autism: Kaden Tuttle $1,500

• Beta Alpha Beta: Easton Rivera $1,000

• Burns Bellhorn: Marianna Arredondo $1,000 (renewable for one year, total of $2,000)

• CSEA: Emily Aguiar, Easton Rivera ($500 each)

• Doug Baldridge Memorial: Calista Cardinale, Logan Spears

• First Northern Bank: Adamary Alanis $1,000

• Friends of Winters

FFA: Joseph Aguiar, Emmet Edman, Kaden Tuttle

• Fortnightly Club of Winters/Charlotte Carter Memorial: Adamary Alanis $1,000

• Holden Philbrook Memorial: Adamary

Alanis, Calista Cardinale, Celeste Garcia-Rodarte, Briseyda Pedraza, Easton Rivera, Rylie Schroeder ($750 each)

• Hugh Randolph Memorial: Marhama Nuristani

• Jessica Patricia Ortiz-Mendoza Memorial Scholarship/Lupe Ortiz

Si Se Puede Memorial: Adamary Alanis $1,500

• Julia Millon Memorial: Eduardo Fierros

• Julie Orosco: Briseyda Pedraza

• The Kindness Scholarship: Marianna Arredondo

• Mariani Nut Company: Marianna Arredondo Reyes, Karina

Echeverria, Berenise Alvarez, Leonard Franco, Fatima Olmedo, Joseph Aguiar, Emily Aguiar, Eduardo Fierros, Briseyda Pedraza, Yanely Gutierrez • McMahon-Graf: Joe Aguiar $2,000

• Nick McClellan “Mr. Mac” Memorial: Edu-

Julia was a Winters High School Class of 2008 graduate. She was a journalist at the Winters Express and was poised to become the editor prior to her death in May 2018. The Julia R. Millon Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memoriam to honor her.

Courtesy photo

ardo Fierros, Adamary Alanis ($500 each)

• Portuguese Historical Cultural Society: Emily Aguiar $500

• Progress View Farms: Joanna Cuevas

$1,000

• Tri-Counties Bank:

Marhama Nuristani

$1,000

• Winters Music

Boosters: Ensley Barbosa, Celeste Garcia Rodarte ($500 each)

• Winters Lions Club/F. Ramos Memorial: Adamary Alanis, Easton Rivera ($500 each)

• Winters Youth Day

Scholarship: Jasmine Jimenez, Emily Aguiar, Rylie Schroeder, Celeste Garcia-Rodarte, Adamary Alanis

• Anonymous: Shelby Boykin, Matt Moore, Kyera McFarland ($500 each)

Graduates not pictured above:

Winters High School

Juan Cardenas

Damian Gutierrez

Guadalupe Lopez

Raul Mendez

Samantha Rodriguez

Amber Tomas

Sandra

Valdez-Sanchez

Wolfskill CRA

Anthony Gutierrez

Nathaniel Juarez

Ramirez Natasha Diaz

Evan Davis

Joanna Del Toro Mendoza

Joanna Cuevas Sandoval

Eva De La Cruz Santana

Ricardo Del Toro Ojeda

What to know about taking a year off school

Metro

Special to the Express

Over the last two years, people from all walks of life have reevaluated their priorities in the face of a global pandemic. That reevaluation has led some students to take a break from school.

While taking a break can be the right choice for some students, certain variables should be considered before pressing pause on education. Here’s a deeper look into taking a break from school.

A chance to mentally recover

Many students try to press through courses even when they are unwell or trying to recover from a significant condition. This can put students at a disadvantage that could adversely affect their academic per-

formance, which may have an effect on their graduation prospects and future success. A break gives students a chance to get their health, including their mental wellness, in order and then return to their coursework fully focused. Enjoy a renewed vigor for academics

Some students may begin courses without a solid plan for the future. In such instances, students could be paying tuition for courses they’re not interested in. A break can offer students an opportunity to reassess the direction they’re going in and come back to school with a fresh approach for the future.

Student loan grace period

College students who have federal student loans in the Unit-

ed States are entitled to one six-month grace period during which payments will not be required, according to Forbes Advisor After a student drops below part-time status, the grace period begins. Someone who

takes a semester off from school may trigger that grace period clock. When the student returns to school and then graduates, or if he or she chooses to leave again, repayment of the loan will begin immediately,

as a second six-month grace period is not permitted.

Internships

Some students take a break from school because an internship opens up outside of the time parameters

set by some schools. Internships tend to occur in junior or senior years of college and could earn students college credit.

Scholarship eligibility

Leaving school before the year is over may affect scholarship eligibility, as scholarships often are contingent on students attending school fulltime. A student can speak with his or her school’s finance office or bursar to see if a prorated repayment may be necessary and/ or to defer an upcoming semester scholarship until they return. There are many reasons students might want to take a break from academics. Before pumping the brakes on school students should be confirm the long-term effects such a break will have on their academic standing.

Ricardo Fierros Yamilet Duran

Emmett Edman Alberto Duran

Karina Echeverria Eduardo Fierros

Metro/Stock photo

While taking a break can be the right choice for some students, certain variables should be considered before pressing pause on education.

Tips for dorm room and campus safety

Metro

Special to the Express

Life on a college campus can be exciting, especially for freshmen enjoying their first taste of life away from home. As exciting as campus life can be, it also can be a bit nervewracking for students who have never before had to fend for themselves.

Administrators and security personnel work to make school environments as safe as possible, but incidents can happen on any campus. A recent report from Campus Safety and Security, there were 38,100 reported criminal offenses, including burglary and identity theft, on college campuses in the United States in 2017.

Students need not live in fear on campus, but embracing various safety measures can

make life at school that much safer.

• Hide or lock up valuables. You never know what may catch the eye of a thief. Devices and cash are near the top of lists of most commonly stolen possessions, but a desperate student may steal notes or even expensive textbooks if he or she is struggling. Always close doors

and lock dorm rooms when leaving. Keep valuables out of sight at school. Consider buying a dorm room safe and lock your locker at all times.

• Prepare for emergencies. Research the school’s policies on emergency preparedness. Some have text alert systems for emergency situations like adverse weather

conditions, while others have clear guidelines on what students should do if they feel threatened in any way. Participate in fire drills and learn the nearest exits and protocols for emergency evacuations.

• Utilize the buddy system. Most campuses are safe to move around, but it can’t hurt to schedule cer-

tain classes, particularly if they take place after dark, with a friend so you can walk to and from classes together. Security experts say that elevators and stairwells are common places for assailants to target victims. If you ever feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and err on the side of caution.

• Install window alarms. Many retailers sell battery-operated window alarms that can be adhered to windows. The alarms will activate if the window is opened or the glass breaks. These alarms can provide extra security even if your dorm room isn’t on the ground floor.

• Be alert when ridesharing. The safety resource Safety.com says rideshare crimes are on the rise. Always identify your driver and vehicle before getting in and ask the

driver to identify your name, as he or she will have it and your destination. Wait for the ride in a safe place, and try to avoid riding alone.

• Maintain personal health. Be sure to visit the doctor and stay current on necessary vaccinations, such as the one for meningococcal disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk for meningococcal disease in college students is slightly higher than the risk in other teens and young adults who are not attending college. Other communicative diseases can spread more easily on campus as well. Campus and dorm safety is multifaceted. Informed students can reduce their risk of being involved in accidents or being targeted by criminals.

Celeste Garcia Rodarte

Atanacio Garcia

Pedro Garcia Rylie Schroeder

Jewelee’ah Garcia

Guadalupe Garcia Garcia

Embracing various safety measures can make life on campus that much safer.

Metro/Stock photo

Grads share lessons learned from college in a pandemic

By

CalMatters

Eight months into my first year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, in May 2021, I visited the university campus for the first time. Because of the pandemic, I was taking class virtually from 200 miles away, and repeated COVID-19 spikes pushed a campus visit down on my list of priorities.

Seeing San Luis Obispo for the first time made me reflect on how I only had one school year to spend in the city and soak up all that was left in my undergraduate experience. Making the most of that time was significant for me — I am a graduate of El Camino College, and transferring to a university from a community college in the middle of the pandemic wasn’t an easy transition.

I made a grand total of five friends during a year of school over Zoom. I clung to the idea that things would be different in the fall, when I moved to San Luis Obispo for my first, last and only in-person year at Cal Poly.

When I got on campus, it felt great but at some points, col-

lege felt super lonely. Other times felt overwhelming, and full of grief: I lost loved ones and friends to COVID-19 and other health conditions. I was facing burnout, too.

I know I’m not alone. Going to college during a pandemic has been challenging, stressful, and anxiety-inducing for many students. At least for me, out of those challenges came counting the small wins, like completing an assignment on time or cooking something tasty. In a month, I’ll be able to walk the stage at a graduation ceremony — something not every graduating class got to experience during this pandemic. That’s a welcome bookend signifying that despite everything hurled at me and my peers, we made it

to the end.

The CalMatters College Journalism Network talked to other California students as they wrapped up their college careers. Here are their stories in their own words — what they’ve learned, how they’ve changed, and what it’s like to navigate college in a pandemic. (Comments have been edited for length and clarity.)

— Omar Rashad

Carrie Young Scripps College

Art major

I took a year off during the pandemic, so the idea of coming back for my senior year was super strange. I felt like I was living my life — I had a job (at a museum back home), and I was doing all this stuff outside of college. I couldn’t conceptualize being a student again.

When I came back to school, a lot of my initial class had graduated. It definitely felt kind of like coming back to like a ghost town a little bit. It felt like being a freshman again, in a weird way.

Having that year off changed my understanding of what it means to be a student a ton. Having the space away from school was really validating in realizing that I can create a life

for myself that’s really wonderful — and where I felt like I was learning a ton and it wasn’t within this super tiny institution. And then when I came back to school, I think I felt so much more agency in terms of creating that kind of space and those communities at school.

This semester has been the best semester of all of my time in college because I just stopped having the value system of what

I’ve been told college should look like. I’ve overloaded myself on things that aren’t school in a lot of really good ways.

I’ve been working at two of the on-campus art centers and teaching classes for those and running the roller skating club. I feel like I’ve gotten really into the things that really matter to me and have not been putting my energy into things that don’t.

Journalism major

A few months before the pandemic, I started going to City College of San Francisco. One of my boyfriend’s friends said that they were offering free classes for people who were residents of San Francisco. So, I was like, ‘OK, that’s great. Let me go there and investigate what I need.’ I started with just

— Interviewed by Carolyn

Kuimelis

See LESSONS, Page 7

Jasmine Jimenez

Spencer Kelly Yanely Gutierrez Kathryn Johnson Kayden Kendrick Gustavo Jimenez

Carolyn Kuimelis, Elina Lingappa, Itzel Luna, Emily Margaretten and Omar Rashad

Katherine Castillo City College of San Francisco

Omar Rashad/Courtesy photo CalMatters College Journalism Network senior fellow Omar Rashad is graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this year.

Katherine Castillo at her home on May 18.

Katherine Castillo/ CalMatters

Carrie Young, a senior at Scripps College in Claremont, is shown on May 12.

Stella Favaro/ CalMatters

one class, an (English as a second language) class because I was not confident with my English level, and it was in-person for the first few months. And then when the pandemic happened, we started doing online classes. I know it’s kind of hard for many people to do classes online. But I wouldn’t have been able to go to college the way I did, if it wasn’t (for) the pandemic. I don’t have a car and live an hour away from college.

I was worried about the commute because I need to work. The pandemic allowed me to do both things at the same time.

Still, I suffered from a lot of anxiety because I’m a first-generation student so I didn’t know what to expect. And I put a lot of pressure on myself. I’m graduating with a 4.0. I feel amazing

because of that, but I don’t know if it was worth it to cry every semester because I was stressed. My counselor, Anastasia, got me through it. She literally changed my life. Every semester I was like, ‘I’m not going to be able to do it. I’m not going to be able to do it.’ I remember crying and meeting with her, and she was always so supportive. I didn’t even know how to register for a class. Anastasia helped me a lot with that because I

was super lost. For many years, I thought about going to college, but I was scared. You start thinking that you’re not intelligent, or it’s not your first language so it might be more difficult for you. I didn’t start because I was afraid. And now that I finished the first two years, it’s like ‘OK, I did it.’ And I did it in a big way — it helps a lot with how you see yourself and your self-confidence.

— Interviewed by Emily Margaretten

Alejandro Gatus

UC Berkeley Media Studies major

My experience at UC Berkeley before the pandemic was honestly cinematic. On (Admit Day) 2018, it was sunset and I was walking up this hill towards the Campanile. The light was hitting perfectly. They were playing one of my favorite instrumentals. Just having that scene and realizing that ‘Hey, I’m at my dream school, I accomplished it’— it felt really blissful and it was

the start of an amazing journey at Berkeley.

I feel like during my senior year, I’ve been chasing that feeling. I didn’t have any in-person lectures, even during my last semester, even though Berkeley was on a hybrid model. It has kind of been a grieving process, realizing that I may never be in lecture halls again. I will never have another undergraduate experience.

Anyone can always be a student again. There’s masters or doctoral programs, but you can never be an undergrad again. It has made me really sad. What I’ve really taken away is that what matters is the people I surround myself with and knowing that those people will stay in my life.

I’ve felt jealous of the underclassmen who will get a full experience at Berkeley. I have some friends who are in their soph-

omore year. Being around them and seeing that light in their eyes and the excitement they still carry — that I remember from my first year — eases away the jealousy because then I get excited and optimistic for them that we are getting out of this pandemic and they will get these experiences.

— Interviewed by Itzel Luna

Omar Zintan Mwinila-Yuori

Pomona College

Computer Science

major, Math and French minor (The pandemic) taught me that it’s possible to survive, like, no matter what the situation is.

First of all, I’m abroad. This is not my home (Ghana). And so being in that situation, I feel like a lot could have gone wrong. I could have been really stranded or very lonely or See LESSONS, Page 9

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Wishing the

Winters High Class

CA DRE# 01931112

530-681-1106 lorenzodave@sbcglobal.net

of

2022

all the best. Your future is bright and the sky is the limit.

David Lorenzo

Jennifer Lopez Calderon

Emanuel LeonMarianna Arredondo Reyes

Brooklyn Mariani

Ian McCrary

Juliana Martinez

Alejandro Gatus, a media studies major at UC Berkeley, is photographed on May 17.

Caroline Lobel/ CalMatters

Mariah Angelresza Peralta UC Santa Cruz Environmental Science

very depressed, but it worked out. So I guess it just showed me that it’s possible to survive or thrive, even in dire circumstances.

My second semester sophomore year, when the pandemic happened and they kicked us off campus, I didn’t have anywhere to go. So my roommate actually took me to his house in Arizona. I lived with him and his family for the rest of the semester.

A lot of things happened during that time for international students. Since school was gonna be online, the government was trying to figure out how visas would work. And so there was this whole scare like, ‘Oh, they’re gonna kick all the international students out of the U.S.?’ I was a bit calm about it. Part of the reason why I was not

very worried was because of my faith. My faith was something I was able to rely on for just, like, stability in a time of instability.

One thing I’ve learned through college is that friendships are a valuable thing to have. Especially when unseen circumstances hap-

pen, like the pandemic, your friendships are the things that you lean on to help you to keep going. The pandemic made me value my friendships more.

I’m going to move to the Bay Area to start working, like late August. I’m going to be working as a software engineer at Google.

I’m not really scared about moving to the Bay, even though I’ve never been there before. I’m not worrying about it because we’ve been through this already, like, I’ve been through a similar situation or worse situation.

major

Looking back at myself as a freshman, I was very timid to join a lot of spaces on campus. I was very dependent on others to support me, like going to the dining hall or going to class — I hated doing a lot of things alone. And I guess that timidness prevented me from exploring other interests, or other spaces on campus where I feel like I can find a community.

I came from a pretty non-diverse city. My residential college (at UC Santa Cruz) wasn’t that diverse either. I was one of, I would say, a couple people of color in my residential college, and in my high school too. And so I didn’t get to explore that identity at all until I got to college.

which is a Filipino organization at UC Santa Cruz. And that definitely provided me with the community that I was missing out on in my first year My biggest memory is that I failed my (calculus) series. I failed it. I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I can’t be an environmental science major anymore. Like, what am I going to do?’ I didn’t feel comfortable going to my professor. I didn’t feel comfortable going to the TA. The only person I truly felt comfortable going to was my ate — my mentor in Bayanihan. She was like, ‘Listen, we have these resources available to you not only within the Filipino organization but the school as well. Here they are, seek them out, take advantage of them — you’re paying for them.’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe this is going to work out. I’m going to finish

Lingappa

— Interviewed by Elina

Luckily enough, I joined Bayanihan,

See LESSONS, Page 11

Jayden McNeal Matthew Moore

Belen Mora Ceja Kamila Mora Herrera

Melina Mora

Kyera McFarland

LESSONS Continued from Page 9

Stella Favaro/CalMatters

The pandemic taught Omar Zintan Mwinila-Yuori, a senior at Pomona College in Claremont, the value of friendships.

the major that I wanted to finish.’

I would say to a woman of color going to UC Santa Cruz or any institution of higher education that ‘There are spaces for you, and they’re made by other students who want to see you succeed and want to create a collective community that is successful and supports you.’ So

I would say, ‘Don’t be discouraged with how these classrooms look or how these resources treat you because there are spaces on campus that want to support you and want to see you (be) successful.’

— Interviewed by

Carolyn Kuimelis

Claire Tauber

UC Davis Sustainable

Agriculture and Food Systems major

I transferred to UC Davis in the fall of

2020, which was a really interesting time to transfer because it was full-on pandemic Zoom school. I was in a group of students who graduated from community college that first spring of the pandemic. There were a lot of us having conversations like, ‘Should I wait? Should I defer for a year and then transfer?’ Because everything felt so up in the air. A deciding moment for me was when I called my grandma. And she’s like, ‘Just go to university. What

else are you going to do?’

I tried really hard to make friends as much as possible, but it was difficult because being a transfer, you already have the fear of ‘What if I don’t make friends?’ I found it too challenging to form a real connection with anyone online. You miss all the walking to class moments of just chatting with someone when you’re on Zoom. It doesn’t really facilitate casual social interactions. Once we returned in-person, I was able

Mariah Angelresza Peralta, a senior at UC Santa Cruz, poses on May 13.

to make friends because we all were eager to know each other. But it felt kind of fast and furious. Everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re back in person!’ And then about a month later I found myself wondering, ‘Why am I so exhausted? Why do I feel all these emotions?’ And I realized I just went from seeing a max of 20 people a day to seeing 3,000 people a day. I think the pandemic served a little bit like a mirror, or looking glass, to see the

value of college. And in a lot of ways, it has not been worth it just due to the exorbitant cost of school. I’m quite fortunate I have a family that’s helping me pay for college. But even in that case, it still feels like, ‘Why were so many students expected to pay the exact same tuition for something that was so vastly different from what they signed up for initially?’

I think for me, personally, trying to cram so much in such a short span of time led to the risk of burnout. There’s kind of a sense of time lost due to the pandemic and then this desire to wring out every possible opportunity because it’s so expensive and short-lived.

— Interviewed by Emily Margaretten

CalMatters and student journalists from across California. Kuimelis and Margaretten are contributors to the network. Rashad is a senior fellow with the network. This story and other higher education coverage are supported by the College Futures Foundation.

Calvert with Mel and Pat Calvert with Bravo Kimber (A Neighbor) Photo Bombed

Osvaldo Nunez Avina

Jasmine Noel-Moore

Jazmine Ortiz Manuel Palmerin Del Toro

Fatima Olmedo Lopez

Richard Padilla

Lucy Wald/ CalMatters

“A deciding moment for me was when I called my grandma. And she’s like, ‘Just go to university. What else are you going to do?’”

Claire Tauber UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems major

CELEBRATING WINTERS CLASS OF 2022

Senior athletes bring the competition this year

By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

Winters High School is more than a bastion of academics. The rough, rowdy and resilient Winters Warriors are also dedicated and fierce athletes other schools should know to fear by now. The Class of 2022 has no shortage of such athletes, and they made the most out of the first full year of competition since the pandemic.

What sets WHS apart from many schools is the number of three-sport athletes. WHS Athletic Director Daniel Ward said the year before the pandemic hit, WHS had 55 three-sport athletes out of a student population of 450 while Davis Senior High School only had one out of a student population of about 3,000.

Unfortunately, the number of three-sport Warriors has decreased since for one reason or another. While Ward hopes those numbers increase next year, he doesn’t let it soften the praises he sings for the 2022 senior athletes.

“I’m proud of the seniors because they had to deal with more than any other senior class. Most of them missed half their sophomore year or whole junior year of sports. So, to come back and compete and play and finish seasons is special,” said Ward. “For a lot of kids I think a year off of sports was good because our numbers athletically were as high this year as they ever have been because a ton of kids wanted to come out and play sports again.”

With so many Warriors out to play, it made for a very special year with many senior athletes distinguishing themselves through the crucible of competition.

Football

Although the record for

the 2021-22 season wasn’t necessarily ideal, the senior athletes were strong on the field. So strong, in fact, that three are going on to play at the collegiate level.

“Matt Moore is going to George Fox University, Memo Valadez is going to Feather River College and Emmet Edmon is going to go play at Yuba College,” said Ward, who is the varsity head football coach. “It’s really cool, I can’t remember a year where we had three people continuing on to the next level. That’s kind of like a proud papa moment where you want to see your kids go on and play for as long as they can, and to see three people in a year is super exciting.”

Even though seniors Connor Ray and Grayson Roberts were injured, their presence was sorely missed in the lineup. Ray was serving as a team lead-

er when he was injured in week three of the season.

“Part of the reason we struggled this season is some of our best players were hurt. So, Conner Ray was having an amazing season and was our best defensive player,” said Ward.

Roberts came out strong on the field this season, until an injury took him out of the competition.

“Another big one, too, was Grayson Roberts. He — more than just football — would have been another three-sport athlete.”

At the 112th annual Powder Puff flag football game, the senior team fell short of dominating the juniors by five points.  Shelby Boykin was in as quarterback and fought hard to get the ball up the field against the juniors quick defense. Jozlyn Rooney and Rylie Schroeder lead the team offensively, while Boykin and Jewelee’ah Garcia were valuable players for the defense team, breaking up critical plays. These four players were extremely consistent in making good plays but it was Ieva Zielmele, a foreign exchange student experiencing Powder Puff for the first time, who made the most memorable play of the night with a 90-yard run on an interception.

Swim

The senior water Warriors also made a splash in the competition this year Although there were only three, they made their head coach Devin Tice proud.

“Ensley Barbosa made a lot of improvement from the start of the season. She was always responsible about telling me what practices she could make and swam events in the meets when asked. David Rivas got very close to qualifying for the divisional meet. He was always bubbly and joy-

ous at practices and meets and definitely one of the most social and talkative on the team,” Tice said.

Tice gave high praise for team captain Diego Valencia

“Diego Valencia was a standout senior swimmer because he made it to the top 16 masters meet and placed in his individual events. That was fourth in the 50 freestyle and got third in the 100 butterfly,” Tice said. “Diego was a team captain and was high spirited at practice and fun to coach.”

Cheer

The WHS cheer squad jumped into competitive cheer this year under the leadership of senior cheer captains Jasmine Jimenez, Aislynn Trojanowski and Brooklyn Mariani

Jimenez cheered for WHS for three years. Her dedication and hard work is what allowed her to be selected as one of this season’s captains.

“Jasmine is an all around stellar cheerleader. In dance and sideline cheers she stands out because of

her energy, enthusiasm and technique. When stunting, Jasmine’s strength and stamina are key. All season long she has pushed herself and her stunt team to achieve advanced level stunts,” said coach Sterling Davis. Jimenez was also been selected to go to Hawaii for the UCA Spirit Parade this year.

“Aislynn always gives it her all as cheer captain. She has been a great leader so far this year and I’m excited to see what she brings the rest of her senior year,” said assistant coach Rachel Calvert.  Mariani cheered all four years during her educational career at WHS.

“Brooklyn is a skilled and fearless flyer who is a selfless athlete and knows the meaning of teamwork. Even though she is our most experienced flyer, she is always willing to choose what’s best for the team before placing herself in the spotlight. Brooklyn’s dedication to cheer is what has made her one of our top athletes,” said Davis.

Grayson Roberts

Sandra Romero

Jozlyn Rooney

Easton Rivera

David Rivas

Julio Reyes Del Toro

Melesio Perez JR.

Briseyda Pedraza Mejia

Lilly Reichel

Connor Ray

David Reyes Emilio Reina

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photo

Seniors on the varsity football team pose with their moms in part of a traditional photo opportunity.

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photo

Aislynn Trojanowski, one of the three senior cheer captains, leads the squad at a game.

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photo Jewelee’ah Garcia puts herself between a Live Oak Lion and the Ball to gain possession.

Jimenez, Trojanowski and Mariani used their combined years of cheerleading to provide the senior powder puff squad with the skills and technique they needed to nail their halftime show. This year’s senior powder puff cheer squad included

Atanacio Garcia, Easton Rivera, Joe Aguiar, Jayden McNeal, Kaden Tuttle and Logan Spears

Soccer

The seniors on the women’s varsity soccer team were also integral to success. For head coach Kim Olivas, watching them grow into better players over four years was as satisfying as any win.

“Joanna Cuevas Sandoval — or ‘Jojo’ as we call her — was a two-year captain and all-league defensive player. She’ll be joining the soccer program at Solano Community College next year while she decides what her next step is. Then Karina Echeverria was a captain and an all-league player. It’s been a joy seeing Karina go from a shy freshman struggling with confidence into a strong force on the field. She’ll be attending CSU Sacramento next year,” said Olivas.

“Jewelee’ah Garcia struggled with a nagging knee injury all four years. Her positive outlook, coachability and sheer willpower made her a big asset to the team. She’s going to Grand Canyon University in Arizona next year.”

Basketball

With new head coaches taking the reins for both varsity teams, the Warriors

CELEBRATING WINTERS CLASS OF 2022

were no strangers to racking up wins on the basketball court.

For the women’s team, head coach Jeff Christian said he was delighted in their growth as players and people. Although there was only one senior, exchange student Ieva Ziemele, she helped the team to a successful season.

“These were a group of incredible young ladies,” lauded Christian. “They loved each other and I’ve never coached a team

where the players were all in for each other all season long.”

The four seniors on the varsity men’s squad also made an impression on their coach Brendan McShea.

“

Matt Moore is a leader and just does it the right way. He’s the guy who took the most charges, was super unselfish and led the team in assists as well. Teammates loved him and he was very easy to coach. Davis Reyes was the toughest kid on the team and guarded the best wing player every day. He did a great job being a voice on the court and on the sideline holding his

teammates accountable,” said McShea. “Diego (Valencia) was a tough guy on the inside. He did all the tough, dirty stuff you need from guys near the hoop and showed teammates how to play hard. Then, there’s Joe Aguiar. The guy just works. He’s super successful off the court and still put in all the time and effort for basketball and no one got better or gave more of a spark when we needed to get the team hyped up.”

Softball/Baseball

Seniors were key components for the varsity softball team as well. With only three due to grades and/or injury, Emily Aguiar, Katie Johnson and Sierra Berry were proverbial jacks-ofall-trades for head coach Buddy Berry.

“They all played multiple positions this year due to inexperience and injuries. Emily played first base, second base, right field and center field. Katie played third base, center field and left field. And Sierra played catcher, pitcher, first base, third base, shortstop, center field and left field,” explained Berry. “They were all wiling to

be diverse and agile to help the team in any way possible. They were also captains on and off the field, and Sierra led the team in RBI’s and walks and was selected to the 2022 Evening Optimist Club High School Softball All-Star game.” For new varsity men’s head coach Austin Calvert, his five seniors truly exemplified what it means to be a Winters baseball player To him, simply being their coach was an honor unto itself.

“Matt Moore is an absolute competitor and a goto leader. When Matty has the ball in his hand, you know he’s going to give his teammates everything he can. He’s ‘Winters baseball’ to his core. Conner Ray, in a lot of ways, is the backbone of our team. He’s constantly contributing RBI’s and quality at-bats. His leadership has been an immeasurable impact on our success,” hailed Calvert. “Davis Reyes has battled through some injuries but never lets that stop him from contributing and supporting the team.

Ian McCrary has been one of my favorite guys since December and you will find his picture in the dictionary next to the word ‘coachable.’ He’s constantly striving to better himself on and off the field. Then Grayson Roberts brings confidence and energy to the team. Previous injuries have kept him out of uniform this season, but that hasn’t stopped his impact on our program.”

While there are other teams with amazing seniors on them, unfortunately not every coach has been available for comment. If there’s anything one can derive from the words and feelings regarding these seniors, however, it’s that they embody the grit, selflessness and determination of the generations of Winters Warriors who

them.

Spencer StewartGuadalupe Tirado-Sanchez

Mia Tretjakov

Kaden Tuttle

Aislynn Trojanowski

Eduardo Torres

Antonio Sanchez DuarteLizbeth Sanchez-Duarte Kira Gardner

Veronica Soria Logan Spears

Kaylee Smith

played before

Crystal Apilado contributed to this article.

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photo

Matt Moore dribbles around a defender.

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photo

ABOVE: Pedro Garcia steals the ball from Colusa. RIGHT: Senior Jozlyn Rooney (right) attempts to keep her flags our of junior Lilianna Rodriguez’s reach during the Powder Puff game.

ATHLETES

Continued from Page 12

Emily Aguiar was one of the proverbial jacks-of-all-trades on the softball team.

KS Winters Photography/ Courtesy photo

Wolfskill CRA celebrates spring 2022 graduates

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Wolfskill Career

Readiness Academy celebrated their spring graduates who came to the end of their high school journey. Students and their families gathered at an in-person graduation event on Friday, May 27 outside of the school house. Graduates received their accredited diploma and their work ready certificates. Wolfskill CRA staff also celebrated each student with a personalized speech in traditional CRA graduation fashion.

Greg Wade, CRA lead teachers said:

Benjamin Perez

Wade said Perez is one of the most incredible young men he’s ever met.

“He’s overcome immense challenges. His decision to finish and apply himself was a great one by him and we had a blast working together. Nothing beats working with a willing cooperative and motivated student. He played by the rules and succeeded. I only hope he survives all those side shows,” Wade said.

Adrian Soto

Wade said Soto came to the CRA wondering if he should drop out.

“I told him I could make graduation happen for him. That he should check out CRA before he decides. He benefited from our Work Experience Credits format. He gave up wild speculation and became a mature critical thinker. Adrian it was a pleasure doing business with you,” Wade said.

Dylan Wagner Wade noted that Wagner came to the CRA recently and his

words did not match his actions.

“As I got to know him better and discover the challenge he was facing I began working one on one with him. He responded positively to the intervention and began making serious plans for trade school. Getting serious really impressed me and made my job much easier. So, Dylan, thanks for stepping up despite the current challenges you are facing,” Wade said.

Ryan Catanzaro, CRA teacher, shared the following:

Arthur Cueva

Arthur Cueva is a quiet, polite kid who is always ready to help others especially his sister.

“He consistently calls teachers ‘Sir.’ He’s just a respectful guy. We realized he truly wanted to succeed and he has done exactly that,” Catanzaro said.

Erik Perez

“Erik Perez truly exemplified what we are going for at CRA. He was already working full time at Amazon. Where he truly shined was his desire to help his classmates and community. He made sure his younger classmates got to school and took their education seriously,” Catanzaro said.

Kaden Jonte

Counselor Jeff Sims said he’s had the opportunity to watch student Kaden Jonte grow up since first grade. He called him a non-traditional learner, who is smart and finds what’s in his head more interesting than any teacher or curriculum.

“He is creative, good with his hands, and enjoys guitar and video games. He is now free to pursue his own life

as he sees fit,” Sims said.

Liz Coman, school district Career and College Coordinator said the following:

Victoria Cardenas

It is my pleasure to speak about Victoria. She is well on her way to reaching her potential for a full and fulfilling life. And I am not the only one who believes this to be true. In April, Victoria interviewed with three community members to earn the Career Ready Certificate.

Panelists said Cardenas clearly demonstrated that she’s a hard-worker and has a resilient spirit; is an amazing artist and business developer; and is confident, articulate and very mature for her age.

One of her bosses said Cardenas has always been a very responsible person. She was quick to find a job to support herself at a very early age, and she has always performed above and beyond. The

main reason Cardenas has earned such respect is her attitude. She is always polite and well-spoken, and shows nothing but pro-

fessionalism and willingness to help with everyone’s needs, regardless of position.

“These qualities will stand her in good stead

as she pursues a career as a teacher. Her goal is to become a middle school social studies teacher, and when she does, I hope she will consider teaching in Winters if the opportunity exists. A person of curiosity and imagination, she will guide her students with the desire to learn and engage them with her insights and creativity,” Coman said.

Braulio Montes Granados

Coman said once she knew she was going to be offering a testimonial on Montes Granados’s behalf, she started making a list of adjectives and characteristics that apply to him.

“He is cooperative and fair-minded; he is reliable and takes initiative; he is conscientious and always courteous; he is reflective and a self-starter. I could spend a lot of time listing his strengths, but I was

Going Places

Guillermo Valadez Vivian Valdibia Diego Valencia

Julio Vasquez Duran Alondra Valenzuela Castro

Ieva Ziemele

Arthur Cueva

Benjamin Perez

Kaden Jonte

Adrian Soto

Victoria Cardenas

Erik Perez

Braulio Montes Granados

Dylan Wagner

Braulio Montes Granados celebrates with friends and family following the ceremony.

CELEBRATING WINTERS CLASS OF 2022

Continued from Page 14

looking for a word that would encompass all of these things, and I landed on the word “solid.” Coman said.

Coman detailed how Montes Granados is rock solid — not only physically, but to the degree that he has attained the respect of both his teachers and his classmates. He is a student of great stature, and In this respect he is solid. Coman also called him multidimensional because he is intelligent and a deep thinker.

“He understands that we all are complex beings made up of both strengths and weaknesses. He knows that we are all ‘works in progress.’ I am confident he will continue to grow spiritually, mentally and intellectually throughout his life because he will be open to the many multi-faceted opportunities and experiences that lead to fulfilled lives. In this respect he is solid.” Coman said.

Coman also called Montes Granados reliable, thoughtful and thorough.

“The other day, we were discussing scenarios that often take place at work, and the students’ job was to offer various ideas on how to handle them. Braulio’s responses were considered and considerate, thinking from both the employees’ and employers’ points of view. He provided suggestions that would be helpful to the employer while not adding extra stress to the employee. As one of our students who has a job, he mentioned how he handled a couple of the situations that we were discussing in his real-life experience,” Coman said.

Coman followed up saying Montes Granados has a solid handshake and she knows he will continue to grow, to find his path, to contribute to society, to contribute as a solid citizen, and there’s nothing better than that.

Some exclusions apply. See store for details. Exp. 6/30/22.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Benjamin Perez poses with his diploma for a photo.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

ABOVE: Spring 2022 graduates look at their diplomas following the declaration of their graduation. BELOW: Erik Perez poses with his diploma for a photo with family.

WOLFSKILL

the Class