R-P Graduation Section 2018 by Weeklys

Page D2 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, June 15-21, 2018

WATSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Watsonville bids farewell to 383 graduates

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Watsonville High senior Gabby Felix is all smiles as she works her way onto Geiser Field. By TODD GUILD

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

mater.

atsonville High School valedictorian Alex Rocha is on her way to Yale University after her departure June 8 from her alma

Rocha plans to study political science, and is eyeing a career in either politics or law. When she arrives at the storied New Haven, Conn. campus, she will join her sister, who is in her second year of biomedical engineering major. “I feel good, I feel excited,” Rocha said just before she and her 382 fellow graduates marched onto Geiser Field. “I feel like everything has paid off.” Rocha said she is nervous to leave the community in which she was raised, but is looking forward to experiencing the different culture that the East Coast and an Ivy

League school offers. “This is my community,” she said. “Everyone has made an impact on me and it’s hard to say goodbye.” Katelyn Meyer has spent the past three years as a Watsonville Police Cadet, an avocation that has inspired her to seek a career in law enforcement. She is headed to San Jose State University, where she will study psychology. She hopes to return to Watsonville and become a police officer. “I think psychology is interesting, and it will help me understand how people think,” she said.

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Watsonville High graduates file onto Geiser Field June 8 for their graduation ceremony. Gabby Felix has earned a full scholarship to play soccer at Holy Names University, a private university in Oakland. Felix said she has been playing soccer since she was 7, a sport she said helped her stay focused through trying times in her life. “I’m excited,” she said. “I’m ready to start a new life.” Bless Romo said she is attending Stanford University to study environmental science and earth systems. Her goal is to research and design sustainable industrial systems. “Get involved in your community, and participate in things you truly enjoy,” she said, when asked her advice for younger students.

ON THE COVER Gio Gonzalez prepares to cross the stage at the graduation ceremony for Watsonville High School. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

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Watsonville High seniors make their way to the stage.

Graduation is a time of celebration...

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PAJARO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Grizzlies celebrate commencement

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Maria Emilia Cortez-Torres (from left), Karina Gonzalez and Liszette Gonzalez-Zarate are members of the Pajaro Valley High ASB. Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

Anthony Reyes is glad to receive his diploma and a warm handshake at the commencement ceremony for Pajaro Valley High School. By JOHANNA MILLER

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

n the fall, Pajaro Valley High School graduates Maria Emilia Cortez-Torres and Liszette Gonzalez-Zarate will begin the next phase of their lives at San Jose State University. Both young women held positions on Pajaro Valley High’s 2017-2018 Associated Student Body (ASB), with Gonzalez-Zarate as president and CortezTorres as vice president. “It’s going to be a big change, leaving my hometown,” Cortez-Torres said. “So it is nice to know there will be some familiar faces where I’m going.” Pajaro Valley High School graduated its 2018 class on June 7. Large crowds of family members and friends attended the ceremony at Cabrillo Col-

lege’s Carl Conelly Stadium. “It’s really a bittersweet moment,” Cortez-Torres said. “There are lots of memories. So much of what I know is here.” Former ASB secretary Karina Gonzalez also weighed in on how she was feeling at such a big moment in her life. She will be attending Santa Clara University in the fall, where she plans to study biology. “I will definitely miss this community,” she said. “But there is a lot out there. I’m

ready to see it.” A few days prior to graduation, Gonzalez, Cortez-Torres and Gonzalez-Zarate all participated in the first-ever graduate parade, held at Starlight Elementary School. They joined other Pajaro Valley High students in donning their graduation robes and marching into the school’s quad, which was full of elementaryaged onlookers. Activities Director of PV High, Julie Brusa, coordinated the event along with the students. She said it was meant to inspire the young students, seeing their older counterparts succeeding in completing a major milestone. “A lot of them went to Starlight themselves,” Brusa said. “So it’s really special and important for them to be here

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This graduate has a simple message inscribed on his cap. doing this.” On June 7, the students joined the rest of their classmates in yet another graduation march — and this time, it was official. “I am sad to be leaving,” Gonzalez-Zarate said. “I’m going to miss having this supportive group of people around me. But I’m excited enough, I think, to move on to something new.”

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Yuriana Medina waves to family and friends as she prepares to graduate.

Page D4 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, June 15-21, 2018

APTOS HIGH SCHOOL

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Sofia Natividad (from left), Jordan Baum and Desiree Hardin graduated from Aptos High School on June 7.

March of the Mariners

By JOHANNA MILLER

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

undreds of Aptos High School graduates were met with thunderous applause as they made their way into Cabrillo College’s Carl Conelly Stadium on June 7. Many of the graduates will continue their education, while others plan to jump right into the workforce. The 320 students who graduated from Aptos High all have different outlooks, aspirations and dreams. One of the class’ salutatorians, Sofia Natividad, plans to attend the University of Chicago in the fall and perhaps study biochemistry. She said she’s excited about her future but also somewhat nervous. “It’s definitely a change,” she said, “moving to a big city in a different part of the country. I think I’m up for the challenge, though.” Natividad plans to take on a full-time job this summer. She also mentioned her love of running, with a goal of some

day participating in a marathon. “There’s a lot I want to do,” she said. “I just have to take one day at a time.” Fellow graduate Desiree Hardin, who recently starred in the school’s spring production of “Cinderella” as the Evil Stepmother, is planning to find work this summer as well, and will be attending Cabrillo in the fall. She hope to at least minor in music. When asked what made her time at Aptos special, Hardin said it was her fellow classmates who made it worthwhile. “All the relationships I’ve built up over the past few years have really helped shape me into a better person,” she said. “It’s been a great experi-

ence.” Hardin admitted to having some nostalgia about her time at Aptos High in the last few months, and that she appreciated the school’s laid-back but supportive atmosphere. “When I got to this school, I immediately felt welcomed,” said Hardin, who was part of the drama club for three of her four years. “I always felt like I could be myself.” A couple of weeks prior to graduation, senior Jordan Baum received The Principal’s Award. Aptos High Principal Peggy Pughe explained that the award is given to a student who has had a positive impact on the school environment. Baum had helped host a series of video game tournaments at the school’s performing arts center. “I had no idea I was going to receive the award,” Baum laughed. “But I was super honored.” Both Baum and Natividad made a point to give their thanks to English teacher

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Katelyn Goularte (left) and Jenna Joseph are amused to pose with fellow graduate Matthew Gregory DeCamara. Melisa Silver, who they said made their time at Aptos High very memorable. “Honestly, I learned more about writing from her than in any other class I’ve been in,” Baum said. “It really changed me.” Friends, family, faculty and staff cheered on the graduates at the ceremony to celebrate a major milestone in the graduates’ lives. But, as Baum explained, it’s just one moment — and there are a lot more ahead. “I always used to see becoming an adult as this humungous change,” Baum said. “But I’ve come to realize that you’re still the same person. You change and grow, but you’re still you.” During the commencement ceremony the entire class was hit with an unexpected surprise when more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers in uniform made their way to the stage.

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The Aptos High School graduating class of 2018 pours onto the field for the commencement ceremony at Cabrillo College in Aptos. They were there to personally present the diploma to graduate Sara Jessica Pedro. Her father, CHP officer John Pedro, died in the line of duty

in June 2002 when Sara was only 2. John Pedro’s patrol car had crashed on the northbound exit to Riverside Drive from Highway 1.

WATSONVILLE/APTOS/SANTA CRUZ ADULT EDUCATION

Adult school kicks off graduation season

Todd Guild/Register-Pajaronian

Graduates from Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education listen to keynote speaker Rhea DeHart.

Kelly Sandoval (left) walks into the Henry J. Mello Center during the commencement ceremony for Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education on May 24.

By TODD GUILD

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

atsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education hosted the season’s first graduation ceremony on May 24, with 166 people receiving their GED and high school diplomas, or certificates in clinical medical assistant, pharmacy technician and EKG. A total of 10 passed their citizenship test. “This time of year is a celebration of all of our students’ accomplishments,” school director Nancy Bilicich said. “Many have not attended school for many years and had obstacles get in their way of finishing high school.” Many, she added, persevered despite those obstacles. “Many want to be role models for their families, and are so happy to share this special moment with them,” she said. ••• Kelly Sandoval dropped out of Watsonville High School at 16 when she got pregnant.

To make matters worse, she found herself in an abusive relationship that she said damaged her self-confidence. “That set me back for a while,” she said. “But it made me who I am, and I’m a strong person because of it.” Sandoval is now 29, has since raised two children, in addition to her now 13-yearold son. She also has a 12-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter and two stepchildren. Once all of them were settled in school, Sandoval said it was her turn. “I got tired of working

dead-end jobs, and I wanted to make my education a priority,” she said. “I focused on them and didn’t have time for myself.” Sandoval is already taking classes at Cabrillo College, and has plans to transfer to UC Santa Cruz to study computer science. “After 12 years of holding back, there is no stopping me,” she said. “I’m ready. I did it not only for myself but for my kids, to show them there is this whole world of possibilities.” ••• Jaime Corrales turned 40 on the day he passed his GED test, officially making him a high school graduate and completing a goal he had since he quit school at 14 to help raise his newborn son. He has been working since then, taking whatever job was available. That changed when one of his sons, who is a junior Aptos High School this year, began to

Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez (left) listens as Rhea DeHart delivers the keynote commencement address. Todd Guild/Register-Pajaronian

Contributed

Jaime Corrales ask him whether he graduated. “I ignored it,” he said. “I didn’t answer.” Eventually, however, Corrales realized that buckling down and finishing the required work could serve as an inspiration for his son. “I wanted to be an example for him,” he said.

Corrales is studying computer science and networking at Cabrillo College, with hopes to transfer to a four-year university. ••• Amanda Fernandez put her high school education on hold to raise her child, and became a stay-at-home mother for the next 18 years. She now has three, ages 18, 16 and 12. “I put it on the back burner for my family,” she said. “That was my priority.” Fernandez said she was

the only one of four siblings who did not finish high school. She said she did not regret her choice, saying she loves taking care of people. Still, competing her high school diploma was a longheld goal, she said. “It was time to get that weight lifted off my shoulders,” she said. “It was my turn. I needed to complete it and make myself feel good.” Fernandez is enrolled in Cabrillo, and is working toward a nursing degree.

CONGRATULATIONS 2017-2018 OUTSTANDING PVUSD CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

Fredy Villafuerte

is the winner of the March 2018 Classified Employee of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Fredy is the lead custodian at Ann Soldo Elementary. While students and staff recognize Fredy for keeping their school clean, they probably don’t realize that he makes sure that all the trash from the adjacent park is removed from behind the campus and shared parking area before they arrive. Fredy is exceptional with the students. He challenges fifth graders to a state capital competition. He has an ease with students who feel they can talk freely to him. Fredy encourages students to do their best and has decorated Ann Soldo’s cafeteria with banners from colleges from around the country as a daily reminder for kids to set the goal of attending college.

Katrina Hernandez

is the winner of the April 2018 Classified Employee of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Katrina is the campus supervisor for Pajaro Middle School. All the staff at Pajaro Middle School spoke highly of her talent with dealing with the students. She goes above and beyond, especially when kids are troubled and need an adult who understands how hard it is to go through the teen years and to make good choices. Katrina is very supportive and drives a lot of fundraising for students going on the Washington, DC school trip.

Lori Hallet

is the winner of the October 2017 Classified Employee of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Lori works in the Program Evaluation Office. Lori has been with the district for over 30 years. Lori may not have direct student contact; however, her pivotal support to site leaders and teachers impacts every student’s testing environment. Lori works from a position of empowering students and staff to accomplish their highest capabilities. Her ability to organize keeps the testing program running smoothly for approximately 15,000 students.

CONGRATULATIONS 2017-2018 OUTSTANDING PVUSD EDUCATORS OF THE MONTH

Alice Miller

is the winner of the March 2018 Teacher of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Alice Miller is a 4th grade teacher at Hall District Elementary. Alice started a band for students at Hall District! She is caring, displays an open-mindedness with her class and a willingness to try something new. The students love the band and are excited to learn and to be at school.

Erik Johnson

is the winner of the January 2018 Teacher of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Erik is a 3rd grade teacher at Ann Soldo Elementary. Erik is an excellent teacher with solid classroom management and high expectations for his students. His classroom is highly structured with clear routines, posted learning intentions and clear expectations. His students feel safe to participate and be motivated to learn and be challenged. At the end of the school year, during the 5th grade promotion ceremony, students often mention Erik as one of their favorite teachers.

Whitney Hegg

is the winner of the October 2017 Teacher of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Whitney is the Science teacher at Pacific Coast Charter grades 9-12. She goes above and beyond on a regular basis to teach her students. Whitney is always preparing amazing activities and experiments for her students to make the classroom engaging and fun, but still challenging. She also provides a safe place in her office for students to stop by to joke, vent, question or cry on her shoulder.

Nancy Claspill-Navarro

is the winner of the April 2018 Teacher of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Nancy is a Resource Specialist at Mintie White Elementary. Nancy has been with the district for over 30 years and is responsible for delivering rigorous lessons to students with learning disabilities who are often the hardest to reach. She was a CASA volunteer who made a significant impact on one young man’s life who struggled but went on the be a student at the Univ of Calif Merced. Her acts of generosity, never-ending development as a professional, and high expectations for all her students exemplify that one person can indeed make a difference in a young person’s future.

Anabel Mendez

is the winner of the May 2018 Teacher of the Month Award for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Anabel is a 1st grade bilingual teacher at Landmark Elementary. Anabel goes the extra mile with a willingness to help anyone who needs her help. She works with her colleagues and students translating and creating materials from English to Spanish and Spanish to English with the patience to explain every detail for them to learn and have a better understanding of the Spanish language. Everyday Anabel strives to be well prepared for her class the next day. She is always concerned with the safety of students and even does extra duties to ensure they are safe.

The recognition from PVUSD, which includes a $50 honorarium, is sponsored by Jacob Young Financial Services, a financial investing firm in Watsonville, Calif. This program honoring Educators and Classified Employees is proudly sponsored by:

Page D6 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, June 15-21, 2018

CABRILLO COLLEGE

A tradition of service

Cabrillo graduate joins 1,195 in commencement ceremony

By TODD GUILD

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

ax Raasch finished his time at Cabrillo in December, and during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 25 received two associate’s degrees, one in economics and one in liberal arts. He now plans to major in legal studies and politics, and minor in Russian, at UC Santa Cruz in the fall. That will be just after he goes to the San Diego area with his Army National Guard group to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Raasch has just over a year left with that organization. In joining the military during his junior year in Aptos High School, Raasch followed a family tradition

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Max Raasch, a 2018 graduate of Cabrillo College, talks about his ongoing service in the National Guard.

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

Jennifer Martin (left) and Rozene Pieri Enloe are happy to earn their degrees in culinary arts and hospitality management.

dating back to 1918 when his great-great-grandfather served in the U.S. Army. His great-grandfathers on both sides of his family served in the 1940s, as did his grandfather in the 1960s and his father in the 1990s. He signed up with the National Guard after seeing an ad on Craigslist and calling a recruiter. “I decided that was the way I wanted to go,” he said. He finished a mission in the Ukraine in September, which was his first time traveling out of the country. Raasch works in Cabrillo’s Veterans Information Center, where among other things he helps veterans enroll in colleges. Eventually, Raasch has dreams of law school and possibly a career in politics. “I’ve always had a sense

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Akila Canton, a graduate in health science/liberal arts, gets a congratulatory handshake from Cabrillo College President Matthew Wetstein during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 25 in Aptos. of duty and country,” he said. Raasch joined 1,195 graduating students at the ceremony at Carl Connelly Stadium. The Cabrillo College Class of 2018 is comprised of graduates ranging in age from 18 to 73 years with an average age of 27. Of the total graduates, 63 percent are female, and 45 percent are Latino. The class boasted 50 students who graduated with a 4.0 grade point average, and 141 students who graduated with high honors.

PACIFIC COAST CHARTER SCHOOL

CEIBA COLLEGE PREP

Erik Chalhoub/Register-Pajaronian Erik Chalhoub/Register-Pajaronian

Pacific Coast Charter School's Class of 2018 includes valedictorians David Gonzalez (from left) and Dahlia Godinez, and salutatorian Markus Gordo.

PCCS sends off its graduates

By ERIK CHALHOUB

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Markus Gordo has been a student at Pacific Coast Charter School since the eighth grade. But now he will leave the confines of Watsonville and head north to Portland State University, marking the first time he has left the state. “I’m very excited to experience the world,” Gordo said. Gordo graduated as salutatorian of Pacific Coast Charter School’s Class of 2018 on June 5, joining 35 of his peers who are headed to college, to a job or other endeavors. He credited his “very supportive” teachers at PCCS for helping him over the years, and gave a shout-out to teacher Benjamin Ketcham, who he said helped guide him in his interest in communications, which he will be studying at Portland State University. “I love the personal relationships you develop with your teachers,” Gordo said. Dahlia Godinez and David Gonzalez are co-valedictorians of this year’s class. Godinez, who has been at

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Tryston Cruz gives a thumbs up as he approaches the stage.

Photos by Erik Chalhoub/Register-Pajaronian

LEFT: Ashley Pineda gets a hug from teacher Lola Ross after she was announced the recipient of the Paula Yamashita Writing Award during Pacific Coast Charter School’s commencement ceremony on June 5. RIGHT: Jesus Dominguez-Martinez leads the audience with the pledge of allegiance. PCCS for a year after transferring from Ceiba College Prep, said she appreciated having “more room for independence” at PCCS. She found herself interested in economics after taking a course on it, and will be studying the topic at UC Davis. “Enjoy your time in school, and manage your time well,” Godinez said when asked her

advice for future graduates. Gonzalez had similar advice. “Hard work pays off,” he said. Gonzalez will be heading to Cal Poly Pomona, where he will be studying theater. He began his time at PCCS as a sophomore after spending his freshman year at Pajaro Valley High School. “It’s very welcoming,” he said of PCCS. “You can really focus on your studies.”

Jailine Zavala (from left), Lexi Escarega and Ashley Tapia are among the graduates this year at Ceiba College Prep.

Ceiba graduates ready for college By ERIK CHALHOUB OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

At Ceiba College Prep, nearly all of the graduating seniors will be pursuing higher education. Some graduates may apply to a few colleges, while others will apply to many. Lexi Escarega, who graduated from Ceiba on June 15, applied to 25 colleges. Her fellow graduates and friends since sixth grade, Jailine Zavala and Ashley Tapia, weren’t far behind. Zavala applied to 12, while Tapia applied to 10. Escarega will be heading to Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, saying she is “excited, but a little bit nervous” about heading to the opposite end of the country to study mathematics. Her time in her math courses at Ceiba sparked an interest in the subject, and Escarega said she wants to pursue a career in accounting. “I like messing around with numbers,” she said, “always knowing that you can find a solution no matter how you want to solve it.” In elementary school, Tapia described herself as a “very troubled student,” who was

Contributed

Diana Juarez and other Ceiba seniors announced to the school’s younger students which colleges they will be attending during an event at the Henry J. Mello Center on June 1. so energetic that she couldn’t focus on her schoolwork. But when her parents were looking at enrolling her into a middle school, they heard that Ceiba was “stricter” than most schools, Tapia said. The school turned out to be a perfect fit. “Something I’ve always appreciated about Ceiba is having that one-on-one connection

with your teachers,” she said. Tapia is now heading to Monterey Peninsula College, where she will be studying political science with a focus on educational issues. She encouraged younger students to begin planning their future now. “If they can start envisioning their future, their goals, they can start on a path to make sure that they are there when they’re seniors,” Tapia said. Zavala said she began Ceiba in the sixth grade, and decided to continue there through high school. “I really like the small school feel and the connections I can build with my teachers and with my peers,” she said. An active volunteer with organizations such as Youth N.O.W. and Community Action Board, Zavala said she has plans of working with a nonprofit organization after she graduates from Santa Clara University with a degree in psychology. “Ceiba really allows any student to get as involved as they want to,” she said. “They should take every opportunity that they can to get involved, and I’m sure they will enjoy it.”

ST. FRANCIS CENTRAL COAST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

St. Francis bids farewell to 60 graduates

MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

Chase Watkins By TARMO HANNULA OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Sixty students at St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School crossed the stage May 26 at the 2018 commencement ceremony. Michele Bowling, public relations/marketing, said the graduates received a whopping $7.1 million in scholarships, more than doubling last year’s total. “I had to do a double-take when I saw that number,” Bowling said. “It’s just staggering.” This year’s valedictorians are Chloe Deleissegues of Aromas and Emily Dowd of Watsonville. Deleissegues will be attending Seattle University and will be running track there. “I’ve had a really good high school experience here,” she said. “Overall, it’s a very welcoming environment. You walk onto this campus and you feel like you are in a small safe haven. I can honestly say after high school I will especially stay in touch with some of my teachers, who have been more than mentors to me.” Deleissegues, 18, said her English teacher, Britney Hill, and her history teacher, John Ausman, stood out, but that she was cautious to not exclude a host of other instructors as being important guiding forces. “I feel I have accelerated both academically and socially here,” she said. “I don’t think I would have had as good of an experience at any other school.

Annie K. Rowland Photography

Jude Clymer is Monte Vista Christian School's Class of 2018 valedictorian.

Monte Vista celebrates graduates

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David Talavera and Chloe Deleissegues This is a special place.” David Talaveras of Soquel said Shannon McCloud, campus minister, made a big difference in his schooling. “She’s a major part of everything here,” he said. “She’s like a mother to us; we call her Mama McCloud; she’s like a mother to us. A lot of the teachers here are willing to work with you and they care about you as a person, not just as a student.” Talaveras said he’s grown up playing baseball since he was a kid. “I was taught that baseball is a game of life,” he said. “It’s an incredibly hard sport. I’ll work hard at it. I am also working on biomedical engineering; being a type 1 diabetic, it has opened

me up to the medical world. I’ve been through so many things to help me with the disease. I can see how designing or engineering something in this field can help me and others. Saint Francis has been an overall great experience.” Graduate Chase Watkins said he will be going to play baseball and pitch at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. “This school is definitely different,” he said. “I came from a public school that had 800 kids and only two grades. Obviously you’re a lot closer to everyone and that can be a good thing or a bad thing. You get to connect with everyone better but there is not as much variety. One big thing is God and praying here at this school. The teachers seem

to care about you a bit more here than some other schools.” Watkins said that the school baseball program, and the wealth of people that helped him along the way made a huge difference in shaping his direction. “As far as young athletes go, I’d advise them to do their research and definitely do a shadow of the coaches and players and see who the coaches are and what they’re about; you want to know what you are getting into,” he said. “Do your research; you want to know what you’re getting into; do the legwork. Even though it is just high school, it is such an important part of your life. Make sure you have your priorities about what you want in a school.”

WATSONVILLE — Monte Vista Christian School celebrated its 186 graduates during a ceremony at Mustang Stadium on May 25. This year’s valedictorian is Jude Clymer, who plans to attend Hillsdale College. Salutatorian Matthew Olson plans to attend Wheaton College. MVCS released these statistics about its Class of 2018: • The seniors have enrolled in 233 Dual Enrollment courses and have taken more than 575 Advanced Placement courses. • They have received $4,707,654 in academic scholarships (not everyone reported their scholarships) • They have applied to more than 520 different colleges and collectively have received close to 700 acceptances from universities nationwide. • 52 students have declared a STEM-related major • 12 seniors will be going on to play collegiate sports

Annie K. Rowland Photography

Matthew Olson is graduating as salutatorian of Monte Vista Christian School's Class of 2018.

• Two will be going into the military • 22 have been together since sixth grade

Page D8 — REGISTER-PAJARONIAN, June 15-21, 2018

NEW SCHOOL

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Jocelyn Tellez

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Carlos Vergara

New School graduates 13 By TARMO HANNULA OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

New School of Watsonville sent 13 graduates across the stage at the commencement ceremony June 6 at the Mello Center. Principal Artemisa Cortez welcomed the crowd and her students to the upbeat ceremony. Carlos Vergara said he was excited about graduating after spending the last year and a half at New School. “It’s pretty amazing at this school,” he said. “At my old high school my grades were slipping and I was ditching school. I

came over here and everything changed; I became a positive person. I got more help here and they gave me an extra push. I got help one on one; I felt like they believed in me.” Vergara said he hopes to go to Cabrillo College and then transfer to a “big university” where he’d like to study how to become a veterinarian. He added that he is also interested in studying law. He said he’ll be the first of his siblings to graduate from high school. “My parents are very proud of me,” Vergara said. A Watsonville native, Ver-

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The 2018 graduating class at New School and staff are joined by their principal, Artemisa Cortez (center, left) and Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez (center, right). gara attributed much of his success at New School to the principal, Artemisa Cortez, and Olga Cornejo, administrative assistant. He called his move to New School “a smart choice.” “I got used to the people here; it’s like a small community. I met people here much easier,” Vergara said. “Once I moved over here I just kind of changed my way of thinking. I thought to myself that I knew I was messing up at Watsonville High. I recognized my mistakes; I knew I could do better.” Vergara described himself as being a “really shy person.”

“At New School I learned how to express myself much better,” Vergara said. “It’s this small community that helped me speak out and express myself.” Graduate Jocelyn Tellez said she has been at New School for one year after transferring from Watsonville High. “I was low on credits and I heard this school would be really good at helping me catch up,” she said. “I am proud of myself and my family is really proud, too. They are so happy.” When describing her experience at New School, Tellez said,

“I like being here because all the teachers help you out with everything. At Watsonville High there were so many students. The teachers here help you at being a better student. I got the help I needed.” When asked about teachers that particularly helped her, Tellez mentioned Emily Halbig and Jodi Richardson. “Ms. Halbig was really helpful and she’s the one who motivated me to go to college,” Tellez said. “Ms. Richardson really cares about her students and she wants the best for all her students. She’s really helpful. I feel that those two

teachers make New School 100 times better.” After graduating, Tellez said she wants to go to Cabrillo College to study sonography to become an ultrasound technician. “For people that are low on credits, this is the school to go to because Ms. Cortez makes sure that each student gets here on time and she helps you, like if there is something going on at home, she can help with that,” Tellez said. “Everybody here — all the staff is very helpful with anything you need, whether academically or with issues at home. They are really good.”

RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduates look ahead By JOHANNA MILLER OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Forty-six students marched into the Henry J. Mello Center on June 6 to celebrate their accomplishments — and begin their future. Tom Tatum, interim principal at Renaissance High School, praised the Class of 2018 as one of the most memorable in years, mentioning that a large percentage had earned their credits to graduate early in the year. “You guys went above and beyond,” he told them. “You all overcame different things, and you worked hard. I’m so proud.” One student, Yolanda Chappell, spoke at length about her time at Renaissance. In January 2017, Chappell’s mother passed away, and since the November prior, she hadn’t been able to come to school very often.

“Renaissance really helped me succeed,” she said. “They offered counseling, gave me packets of information and all kinds of resources for Cabrillo [College], and even information on how to apply for scholarships. I would have been lost without them.” Graduate Luis Vidal also praised the school for its oneon-one attention, particularly mentioning his advisor Bob Lyons and teacher Pat DeMera. “They’ve all been really supportive,” he said. “They helped me get everything I needed done.” Vidal, who said he is second in his family after his sister to graduate high school, explained how coming to Renaissance was a positive move for him. “I was really shy,” he explained. “I didn’t feel like I had anyone to talk to. But when I came here I felt

comfortable. I met up with some old friends from middle school. It was nice.” Pajaro Valley School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez was present at the June 6 ceremony, giving her thoughts and advice to the graduates. Soroptimist International of Watsonville, Rotary Club of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley Association of Managers and other local groups handed out scholarships. Chappell plans to eventually attend a university in Sacramento and study to be a nurse practitioner. She has other goals as well, including perhaps traveling to France and trying out skydiving. “My mom had done so much for me,” she said. “When she passed away I realized how much I had to do on my own. I’m really excited it’s working out. I’m ready to do more.”

Johanna Miller/Register-Pajaronian

Renaissance High School graduates examine their new diplomas at their June 6 commencement. The school graduated 46 students this year.

MOUNT MADONNA SCHOOL

MMS unveils seniors' college choices CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

Mount Madonna School announced Indigo Kelly as the 2018 valedictorian, and Zachary Wagner as salutatorian. The 2018 high school graduation ceremony was held June 14. Kelly, who lives in Santa Cruz, will attend the UC Davis this fall. She said she chose the college because of “their excellent pre-med program, and the many opportunities I will have there." “I spent a month there during the summer before my junior year, and fell in love with the campus,” Kelly said. “I already have connections with many of the professors. It has been one of my dream schools and I am so excited to be able to join their student body. “There are many teachers that inspired me throughout my Mount Madonna career. My fifth grade teacher Sri Gyan

McCaughan made me fall back in love with learning, and taught me how everything I loved could be transformed into something to inspire and help others. Every single teacher has helped me grow as a person and let me explore different subjects in new and interesting ways, and for that I will forever be grateful.” Wagner lives in Watsonville, and plans to attend Worchester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). “I will be attending WPI on a merit scholarship of $80,000," he said. "My reasoning for choosing this school was their projectbased curriculum and access to state-of-the-art programs such as my currently declared major of biomedical engineering. I intend to combine this major with programs in the robotics and neuroscience fields, in order to either go directly into medical

school post-graduation, or to begin graduate work in cybernetics. “As regards to MMS teachers, Sidd McDonald and Sampad Kachuck both inspire me,” he shared. “Sidd taught me what it means to be on a team. His steadfast encouragement, humor, and coaching wisdom helped me to see the necessity of working with others, and how when we support unconditionally and appreciate each other’s diverse strengths, there is truly no way we can be defeated. “Sampad was one of the greatest influences in transforming me from a terrified little boy into a man who is always seeking to have his voice heard.” In addition to Kelly and Wagner, Mount Madonna School’s Class of 2018 includes 14 other students. The class is listed below with their college choices: Aimee Kerr, Morgan Hill,

By TODD GUILD  OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian

Elida Carranza (left) and Damaris Guzman are two of five students who graduated from Diamond Technology Institute.

A total of five seniors graduated from Diamond Technology Institute on June 7, a tiny school loved by students for its small class sizes and student-teacher ratio. In enrolling in the school after a year at Pajaro Valley High School, valedictorian Damaris Guzman said she wanted to take advantage of programs unavailable at her former institution. “There is more support here in general,” she said. This included computer science and engineering. It also includes video production, which Guzman hopes to study when she transfers to a four-year university from Cabrillo College.

Sara Rae Photo

Front row, left to right: Lucas Caudill, Zachary Wagner, Jordan Willis and Zachary Clark. Back row, left to right: Phoebe Grant, Brigg Busenhart, Emily Villareal, Gracie Howley, Ruby Bracher, Carl Ward, Elias Moreno, Indigo Kelly, Aimee Kerr, Sienna Clifton, Cyrus Kamkar and William Murphy. Santa Clara University; Brigg Busenhart, Soquel, Cabrillo College; Carl Ward, Scotts Valley, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Cyrus Kamkar, Aptos, Cabrillo College; Elias Moreno, Morgan Hill, Cabrillo College; Emily Vil-

lareal, Watsonville, University of California, Davis; Gracie Howley, Watsonville, Cuesta College; Jordan Willis, Aptos, San Diego State University; Lucas Caudill, La Selva Beach, Reed College; Phoebe Grant, Soquel, Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles;

Ruby Bracher, Santa Cruz, University of California, Berkeley; Sienna Clifton, Morgan Hill, Cabrillo College; William Murphy, San Martin, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; and Zachary Clark, Corralitos, University of Hawaii, Manoa.

DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

A smaller community

When asked her advice for younger students, Guzman said she would tell them that time passes by quickly, and to start working for the future now. “When you’re a freshman, you have lots of extra time,” she said. “But that’s not an excuse to slack off.” Elida Carranza said she came to the school from PVHS because she appreciated the fact that, thanks to the small class sizes, teachers can be more

invested in students’ education. “They are involved in what you’re doing and the things you’re learning,” she said. This starts when they sit down with every student to develop a 10-year plan, Carranza said. Carranza plans to attend Cabrillo College, and then San Jose State to study criminal justice. She hopes one day to become a police officer or a probation officer. Both young women say they

missed attending rallies and other events typical of large schools. They also did not have a prom at their school; with such a small class they had to wait to be invited to another school’s. Still, Carranza said she does not regret attending Diamond Tech. As for her advice, she said she would tell younger students to buckle down and study. “Your grades matter,” she said. “Keep the grades up, and don’t ditch.”

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