12
Thursday, June 11, 2020
20 20 Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
“Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
13
14
Thursday, June 11, 2020
20 20 Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
Westridge Class of 2020, Oh the Places You’ll Go! I
nstead of sitting on the traditional risers on Westridge School’s Frank Field for commencement, this year’s class of 63 graduates drove across that same field for a safe commencement celebration welcoming them to the ranks of Westridge alumnae. The celebratory car procession was preceded by an online ceremony, which featured remarks from salutatorian N’Dea PiliavinGodwin (Princeton ’24), valedictorian Leah Soldner (Caltech ’24) and commencement speaker Krista Kokjohn Poehler ’93, assistant dean at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. After describing the diverse interests and talents of the class, Piliavin-Godwin said, “Most of all, this is a class of beautiful people who support each other, who are
unafraid to voice their opinions and fight for what they believe in. People who seek knowledge, recognize justice and actively choose to be champions of social justice. People who are the exemplification of why I remain unswerving in my hope for the future.” Soldner concluded her remarks thanking the teachers, parents, coaches and classmates for “helping [the class] to develop as thinkers and listeners, for teaching us the importance of caring about and learning from the world around us and, of course, for introducing us to Oscar Wilde.” In welcoming students, Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor spoke about the arc of world events that has unfolded over the course of the graduates’ lifetimes, noting that many of the class were born in the fall of 2001
and addressing the current nationwide protests calling for an end to racism and racial injustice
as well as the pandemic that upended the students’ final months of high school.
“Are these times completely unprecedented? Our history includes significant periods of tumult that led to growth and meaningful, lasting change,” said McGregor. “Women have demonstrated that they can lead at times like these. They have shown us that that they can be in charge of their own destiny and of those around them.” “This is where you come in! This is where you take your best bold selves, your resilience, compassion, leadership skills and sense of equity and justice that have been nurtured while you’ve been at Westridge, and unleash them near and far, at home and across the globe, restoring hope and possibility and guaranteeing a brighter future. Make it known that a Westridge graduate inspires others and leads a life of impact!”
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
15
16
20 20 Graduation
Thursday, June 11, 2020
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
Flintridge Sacred Heart Shines Flintridge Sacred Heart Class of 2020 includes (in alphabetical order) Caitlyn Adams, Sofia Algorri, Emily Amirian, Nicole Ariki, Kristen Asmar, Catherine Bauer, Lindsey Beck, Lauren Bolte, Brianna Bronson, Caroline Chase, Yanjie Chen, Zunyi Chen, Francesca Christensen, Emma Condit, Margaret Coontz, Natalia Cruz, Emily Cupo, Leni Dai, Cerys Davies, Janna De Vera, Riley DeJardin, Ferryn Drake, Alexandra Ehrhart, Natalie Felikian, Isabella Gandarilla, Xinning Gao, Emily Giesler, Dominique Godinez, Samantha Godinez, Emily Gomez, Yuqi Gong, Qi Guan, Sarah Hanks, Madeleine Hara, Kysa Hayashi, Manami Hayashi, Chase Hayes, Kiara Hosseinion, Hillary Howard, Christine Huston, Natalie Isaghulian, Grace Italia, Elisa Jimenez, Jaden Jones, Margaret Kalaw, Carmen Kelley, Darcy Kelley, Georgia Kisob, Ann Krappman, Liliana Labellarte, Jocelle Marie Lauron, Brianna Layseca, Abigail Lewis, Eleanor Li, Aili Lin, Aiqi Long, Lea Lopez, Izabel Mah y Busch, Katrina Manaloto, Celine Moradi, Shiyi Mu, Elle Nawrocki, Lauren Nettels, Nicole Noriega, Francesca Norton, Emilie Nunn, Olivia Partamian, Sarah Peck, Christina Perasso, Olivia Pieterse, Madeline Placido, Liza Pyle, Hailey Ramos, Lia Ramos, Brynne Richardson, Emilie Risha, Olivia Roginson, Elizabeth Rosenberger, Claire Schmidt, Hannah Sobota, Olivia Spina, Camryn Steele, Catherine Sullivan, Meghan Sullivan, Kaitlyn Thomas, Quinlan Van de Voorde, Jiayi Wang, Jenna Webster, Lilian Welwood, Madeline Williams, Meihan Wu, Yu Wu, Jiayue Xia, Huanqi Yang, Julia Yellen, Qing Yu, Yajun Yuan, Zoe Zarifes, Ziyan Zhang, Catherine Ziegler and Alexandra Zuch
Valedictorian Katrina Manaloto
Salutatorian Kristen Asmar
Flintridge Sacred Heart Associated Student Body Board includes President; Georgia Kisob, Vice President; Olivia Spina, Comm. of Boarding/ASB Rep; Jiayi Jenny Wang, Campus Minister; Janna De Vera, Secretary; Jocelle Lauron, Treasurer; Kristen Asmar, Comm. of Activities; Greta Coontz, 20
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
17
18
Thursday, June 11, 2020
20 20 Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
19
20
20 20 Graduation
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Maranatha Celebrates 2020 Graduates at Virtual Commencement O
n the evening of Saturday, May 30, the administration, faculty, staff and Board of Trustees of Maranatha High School celebrated the class of 2020 during their firstever virtual Commencement Ceremony. This year’s commencement celebration was not a typical ceremony, but then again this has not been a typical spring semester for Maranatha High School because of social distancing measures due to COVID-19. While Maranatha had to cancel its traditional in-person Commencement Ceremony, the school was still thrilled to be honoring its 131 graduates online, marking the completion of the graduates’ four-year college preparatory education. Maranatha’s graduates will be attending a wide variety of excellent colleges and universities, including the University of Southern California, Whitworth University, Loyola Marymount University, Biola University, Azusa Pacific University, UCLA, Baylor University, George Washington University, Fordham University, New York University, Northern Arizona University, Occidental College, Berklee College of Music and many others. Maranatha High School equips students to demonstrate academic excellence, be effective communicators, and be young men and women who are able to model their faith through service for Christ. Maranatha offers
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
Getting Ready for SMHS Grad Night S
40 advanced placement and honors courses, and a state of the art Technology Integration Learning Environment (TILE) Lab, which features robotics, 3D printing, VR creation, laser cutting, a Mac design center and PC coding. Maranatha has continually proven to be exceptional in the performing and visual arts as well as competitive in athletics, with CIF and state-level wins. There are many additional opportunities for student involvement, including a wide variety of clubs and service opportunities both locally and globally. As one of the only nondenominational Christian schools in the San Gabriel Valley, Maranatha has a long-standing reputation for providing an excellent college preparatory education in a Christ-centered context. Maranatha is a unique and vibrant community that integrates faith in every aspect of living, learning and serving. This in turn leads to genuine student transformation in both spiritual maturity and growth. Student/ teacher supportive relationships are key to the strength of Maranatha’s school community, with students often noting how grateful they are for the mentorship and assistance the staff offers on a daily basis. The community of Maranatha High School congratulates the class of 2020 on all of its accomplishments!
an Marino High School’s Grad Night Committee is busy “flocking lawns” until mid-July, with Grad Night on July 31. You will see the famous flamingos on your lawn, with our flocking team using hand sanitizer before and after flamingo placement. Please take pictures and upload to #smhsgn2020. Once flocking occurs, a donation toward Grad Night is appreciated. Please send a check payable to SMHS PTSA to Sue Nesnas, 1420 Belhaven Road, San Marino, or electronically via Zelle to (626) 831-3288; $100 is customary, but any amount is appreciated. Look for updates at smhsgradnight.com.
CLASS OF
Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations! Morgan Woodward Congrats to our graduating senior members of the San Marino High School Lady Titans’ 2019/2020 Varsity Softball team:
Justine Huang
Morgan Woodward Justine Huang Charlotte Sohl Charlotte Sohl
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
21
22
Thursday, June 11, 2020
20 20 Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
“Write to express, not to impress.”
Thomas P. Roddy, Jr. Writing Tutor
English language arts instructor with over twenty years of experience will help you improve your essay writing for high school and university. mrthomasproddyjr@gmail.com 213.999.6114
College essay CoaChing & english TuToring
Julia Davis
MA, CPhil in English from Brown University juliadavisla@gmail.com (626) 623-9234 13 years teaching at Pasadena independent school Experienced instructing via Zoom/FaceTime/Skype Elementary through high school • Local references available “Julia helped our son, a mediocre writer, produce successful essays that got him into his first choice college. She is dedicated, meticulous, and very skilled.” - Polytechnic parent, class of 2019
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
23
24
20 20 Graduation
Thursday, June 11, 2020
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
A Graduation Year Like No Other at PCC C
Clairbourn Grads’ Skills for Success in Life C
lairbourn Head of School Dr. Patzlaff’s message for the class of 2020: When I think about this class, your impressive, varied talents come to mind, as well as your ability to navigate surprises, like the switch to remote learning in the middle of the school year. At Clairbourn, you have become specialists in the skills that apply to all games and all situations. We have talked about these skills in our daily Morning Assemblies, and these are the qualities from our Code of Ethics: honesty, respect, responsibility, citizenship and spirituality. These are the skills you need for success in life. People keep referring to “these un-
certain times.” But there is certainty in how you approach your life. You always have the choice to act ethically, and that gives you control in the game and in life. So I wish you all the best because you are prepared with this special secret. Clairbourn is proud of you because, in the end, the medal they will hang around your neck will say you played the game well with honor, and you are scholars and leaders with heart. Clairbourn is a CAIS- and WASCaccredited independent school for preschool-grade 8. Visit clairbourn. org or call (626) 286-3108.
ommencement at Pasadena City College is always a time to make memories, but there’s no doubt that the spring of 2020 will stand indelibly in our minds for years to come. When coronavirus came in March, PCC moved its operations online in a whirlwind of a week. Over time, the confusion about coursework and fears about health began to subside, and as we settled in for the long haul, we did the best we could to adapt to the “new normal.” Through it all, our students, faculty, and staff demonstrated resourcefulness and adaptability that showed just how resilient we can be. Then came outrage, despair, protests and upheaval that sent shockwaves through our community again. They have laid bare the pernicious inequality in our systems of government, justice and yes, education. Now we are asked to adapt for our students, faculty and staff. We are learning to listen completely, and we stand in allegiance with our black brothers and sisters, committed to change that is long overdue. Some days it is difficult to find hope, but this commencement we are inspired to think of a brighter future. Our graduates embody the possibility of days yet to come. We celebrate them this month. For more information, visit pasadena.edu.
College Admissions in the Time of COVID-19 A
s parents and students prepare for the college admission process this fall, they will encounter a landscape we have never encountered before, and systems filled with uncertainty. So much is changing. Standardized testing requirements have been suspended by the University of California but not by all universities; the Cal State system will institute remote learning in the fall, yet not all universities have determined their plan of action, and universities are examining the financial impact of COVID and determining which budgets to cut. Complex decisions being made daily will affect the class of 2021 in unexpected ways. As I reflect on my experiences working in university admissions (Stanford and USC) as well as in high school college counseling offices (Poly and Prep), I understand that these are going to be stressful times for students and families. These experiences have shaped the ways I approach the application process, forming the lens with which I view trends. While events are changing the decisions families will need to make, I am encouraged by the opportunities these times have presented students. The current climate is prompting families to look within. We have the opportunity to redefine success
Gloria Ventura and re-examine day-to-day routines. My students are increasing their sleep, reading for pleasure, going outside and having dinner at home with their families. Students are becoming more creative in what they plan to pursue this summer. One student wants
to learn a new language; another plans to create a poetry blog, and another to organize virtual sessions with homeless youth. Universities can no longer expect students to take advantage of formal summer programs or service trips abroad, so this is the time to allow students to create, innovate and explore. We expect the technical aspects of the college application process to remain relatively consistent. Standardized testing will resume in the fall, application deadlines will likely go unchanged and essays will need to be written. But what can be different are the stories our students tell. Encourage your child to observe their world and the ways in which it is changing. Ask your children their opinions, observations and perspectives. These conversations will inspire and shape the way they tell their story. I welcome you to visit steppingstones.net and sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date on the college admission climate, and please reach out to me at gventura@steppingstones.net for help supporting your teen on the road to a campus where they will thrive. — By Gloria Ventura Stepping Stones to Learning
Graduation
SAN MARINO TRIBUNE
20 20
Thursday, June 11, 2020
25