Download chaparral high school - Ed Jones Educational Center

Submitted for publishing in the local community papers June 2011
The Ed Jones Educational Center, a place where fresh starts become success stories, held
its graduation ceremony in the Avalon Room at the Pomona Fairplex Tuesday evening,
June 7. The 53 graduates from Chaparral and VISTA high schools had 650 friends and
family alongside the Board of Education and District Administration cheering them on.
Principal Mo Williams’ message to the graduates was simple: students who graduated at
some point along the way made the crucial decision to set aside what they “felt” like
doing at the moment in order to do what they needed to do for the long run. Chaparral
High graduate Dominic Shimizu played an original guitar instrumental before the
ceremony began, and during his student address he challenged his classmates “to look
back only to learn from your mistakes and appreciate second chances”. Chaparral student
Casey Gibbs stated that he observed and experienced first hand that Chaparral impacts
students through community—staff, community members, and family coming together to
spur student success. “It is because of Chaparral that we unite as one. We shine.” VISTA
student Andrea Griggs appreciated the sense of accomplishment that comes through the
Independent Study program and how it allowed her to volunteer 800 hours at St. Francis
Medical Center. She concluded her speech with “No matter where life takes you, you will
always find it within yourself too get through whatever life throws at you, and you’ll
come out being a better and more successful person.” After the awarding of diplomas
and before VISTA student Raquel Sandoval closed the ceremony with the age-old
tradition of turning the tassels, an inspiring slide presentation reflecting back through the
school year to the song Firework by singer songwriter Katy Perry, clearly demonstrated
that the Ed Jones Educational Center class of 2011 is “even brighter than the moon…and
now it’s time to let it through!”
CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL
27 graduates: Ignacio Arreguin, Amit Bhambhani, Justin R. Blacketer, Cody A. Boardman,
Michelle L. Brown, Carina J. Castro, Patrick R. Dempsey, Mikal S. Dunmore, Casey P. Gibbs,
Caleb M. Gurevitz, Jacob C. Hallford, Raydel Kelley, Joshua Kohoutek-Gonzales, Samantha R.
La Marca, Carlos Hugo Lopez, Yanethe E. Merida, Yolanda Mesta, Sydney Neal, Nerissa Nieto,
Danielle Oliva, Crystal A. Rivera, D’angelo M. Robinson, Joseph Ryan Saucedo, Adam Shaw,
Dominic C. Shimizu, Jacob Shirey, Zachary S. Weitzel
VISTA SCHOOL
26 graduates: Andrea Arey, John Arnold, Tim Brostrom, Carlos Galvan, Christina Galvan, Andrea
Griggs, Brooke Hernandez, Laraine Inclan, Katrina Kapitan, Kaylie Law, Chris Linz, Vanessa
Lozano, John Montoya, Kaitlin Munoz, Liliana Navarro, Andrew Pangilinan, Karlee Rivera,
Chelsea Sandoval, Raquel Sandoval, Ernest Santos, Brandon Tober, Rebekah Turner, Ethan
Valverde, Andrew M. Walker, Timothy Warren, Danielle Wilkerson
English Award
Amit Bhambhani, Chaparral
Social Studies Award Mikal Dunmore, Chaparral
Math Award
Carlos Lopez, Chaparral
Fine Arts Award
Sydney Neal, Chaparral
San Antonio ROP
Casey Gibbs, Chaparral
Brooke Hernandez, VISTA
John Arnold, VISTA
Journalism Award Jacob Shirey, Chaparral
Resource Award
Joseph Saucedo, Chaparral
Tim Brostrom, VISTA
Computers Award Jacob Hallford, Chaparral
Delta Kappa Gamma Society Citizenship Award Adam Shaw, Chaparral
Andrea Griggs, VISTA
Sarah Stewart Citizenship Award Justin Blacketer, Chaparral
San Dimas Senior Citizens Club Scholarship Michelle Brown, Chaparral
Danielle Wilkerson, VISTA
La Verne-San Dimas Educational Foundation Sydney Neal and Joseph Saucedo, Chaparral
Raquel Sandoval, VISTA
John Montoya and
Perseverance Scholarship Ignacio Arreguin, Chaparral Kaitlin Munoz, VISTA
Bonita Unified Management Team Award Crystal Rivera, Chaparral
Student of the Year Dominic Shimizu, Chaparral
Andrea Arey, VISTA
Christina Galvan, VISTA