Lots of Green and White, Smiles and Tears, at El Cerrito High Graduation

Sunshine and a brisk wind greeted El Cerrito High School's graduating class of 2011 at the Richmond Auditorium Thursday. Vendors of leis, 2011 teddy bears, and even candy necklaces tried to get the attention of the huge crowd of students and their friends and family.

However, with the excitement of the crowd, the vendors' cries were almost impossible to distinguish over the joyful chatter. Clusters of students in green and white, reminiscent of their early school years, laughed as they attempted to put on the caps that would be a sign of the end of it all. Tears were not uncommon, but tears without smiles were absent from the premises. El Cerrito High School's seniors were graduating.

The process of organizing such an event is meticulous and the timing must be perfect. Students could barely contain their excitement as they prepared to enter the auditorium, and cheers intermittently broke out. Teachers, while working hard to get things in order, took an occasional minute to celebrate their students' success, congratulating them as they lined up.

As the students filed into their rows, proud parents and family showed their love and support with cheers, screams, and tears. Graduates proudly waved back, and showed their appreciation until the last student had sat down. Graduation began with Tiffany Shem and Mariana Castro reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, then continued to a speech by Principal Jason Reimann, who encouraged the graduates to pay their respects to those who had helped them succeed.

Graduation had many more speeches, as well as performances by the school band (directed by Keith Johnson) and its graduating students, including Greek Folk Song Suite and Point of No Return. Keynote speakers included Rebecca Phuong, Danita Davis, Nuha Saidosman, and Rayana Godrey. The ceremony closed with class Vice-President Costa Adranly directing the "Moving of the Tassel," and "All Hail," El Cerrito High School's anthem. Good luck, class of 2011!

Congratulations Class of 2011:
(*-signifies honor graduate)

*Adam Naem Aballah

Mohammed Fuad Abdulaziz

Tearri Lamar Armon Acliese

Costa Hanna Adranly

Ebraheem Mohammed Alnajar

Antonio James Altieri D'alo

Gabriela Alejandra Alvarado

Ghassan Abdo Alzubairi

Mujahid Amin

Ajwanae Tatiyana Mechel Augustine

Eric Steven Aultman

Sean Andre Austin

Dalal Kamal Ayyad

Aundrea Denise Barnes

Sven Kaarto Barrios

Lidia Johanna Barrios Marroquin

Joel Becerra

*Shirley Wei Man Beh

Kelci Giana Bell

*Christopher James Bennett

Devontanae Bernstine

Deborah Adele Bhurtyal

*Ian Stewart Billings

Samuel Antonio Bloom

*Latetia Elise Bobo

Pamela Marquez Bolnick

*Arek Shant Boloyan

Brandi Daeshawn Bonner

Daqueliahla Leauzanae Montrice Bonner

*Sully Nuey Boonthavee

Mitchell Robert Bovey

*Jessica Taylor Bowman

Michael Anthony Bozman

DeeAngela Rene Brooks

Brooks Shannon Brorsen

*Holly Yuko Cain

Van Lloyd Calhoun II

*Erika Gema Cardona

Isamar Garcia Carrasco

Dominic Angelo Carzoli

*Mariana Castro

Asha Samone Catrow

*Kit Hou Cheang

*Alice Chen

*Brennan Patrick Cheung

*Tenzin Choeying

*Amy Christie Chou

Collin Yoshio Chung

*Sharon Chung

Paul Clark

Tyler Monique Clark

Jaraya Clayton

*Marisol Brooke Montes Clemens

*Maya Antoinette Colbert

Ahkeena De'Shae Collier

Jamontee Damon Condor

Charles Jordan Connor

Hollis Isaac Contreras

Oralia Cervantes Contreras

Desire Monshae Conway

Cynthia Roxanne Cummings

Jenny Kim Phuong Dang

Andrew Robert Davidson

Danita Mauricia Davis

Melissa Alexandra Delapp

*Leeana Marlen Diaz

*Laura Dolorfino

Kristian Dolia Edwards

Malik Marcus Ellison

Marquasha Sheree Emery

*Raina Endo

Brian Flores Espino

Noman Muhammad Farooq

*Deirdre Elizabeth Feeley

Cesar Felix

Marvis Okeith Fetterson

Victor Alfonzo Fierros

Daniel Alexander Flores

Hayden Kennedy Florez

Yasmeen Iman Fortier Bourne

Melvi Magali Garcia

Paul Patrick Gennesson

Nida Ghani

Sina Marie Gi

Deriyon Monae Gilliam

*Joshua Samuel Goldwasser

Ruby Stephanie Gomez

Danielle Victoria Gonzales

Dylan Wesley Gonzales

*Trava Damita Goodwin

Tierra Angelique Green

Gregory Charles Griffin II

Amanda Consuelo Guzman

*Ryan Kenji Hamana

*Christopher Douglas Haxo

*Xue Xue He

Daniel Scott Heckman

Gemikia Shernae Henderson

Marina Sheree Hepler

*Norman Emanuel Hernandez

Rebecca Angelica Hernandez

Andres Horta

*Charlie Trung Hua

*Jashanae Renee Huey

Francisco Javier Ibara

Samantha Melissa Ibarra

Kelly Akemi Hom Ishikata

Kayla LaShae Jackson

Kristofer Davion Jackson

LaRhonda Trynelle Jackson

Jabri Tahjee Jenkins

Cinthia Karina Jimenez

Daylan Maurice Johnson

Adam Douglas Jones

Shanice Nicole Jones

Anthony Shuichi Kakehashi

Jade Kam

*Chiara Tova Kamesar

*Cyrus Jehangir Khambatta

Brandy Onsey Khansouvong

Heang Ung Kim

Sakiyia Yolanda Kinsey

*Justin Lam

*Tomas Elias Lane

Larry James Latour

Andy Lau

*Douglas PoTak Lee

Breanna Nicole Lee

*Jakob Johannes Lengacher

*Jesse Duran Leocario

*Benjamin David Leonard

Aaron Hui Tung Leung

*Andrew An Chang Lin

*Jessie Llosa-Morris

James Benjamin Loebbecke

Desmond Isaiah Lott

Lyonel Deandre Louis

Ebone Nicole Lynch

Asianae Nichelle Lyons Polite

Jose Alex Machado

Reuel Angel Mack Randles

Stephanie Magallan

Kim Nit Manivan

Loreyna Dolores Mariscal

Mariaelena Mariscal

*Moises Martin

*Alfonso Jose Martinez

Brian Lee Mass

*Kate Elizabeth Mazzera

Charelle Renee McAdoo

*Hannah Frances McBrayer

Felease McLane

Christina Nichole Meeks

Sara Rose Meltzer

Luis Antonio Mendoza

Andrew James Milani

Joshua Andrew Miller

*Lena Miller

MaryAh Miller

Philip TeJon Mills

Johnathan Myles Mitchell

Yvonne Molina

*Fernando Yasem Monroy

Benito Jesus Montoya

Joseph Anthony Moreno

Ahmed Ali Ahmed Mudhish

Jennifer Munoz

Myles Joseph Murphy

Takuya Naruse

David Nava

Eric Del Nelson

*Miguel Nieves

Thomas Nawrouzi

Synetra Gloria Marie Nunsuch

Alayna Nuzman

Denise Alexandrea Olden Henry

Dijonee Marie Oliva

Son Pariyavanh

Terrell Lamar Patrick

*Bridey Skye Patterson

Parish Satrice Pearson

Phillip Kenneth Pederson Hanrahan

Ella Caitlin Ali Perez Sawyer

Jilliam Renee Perry

*Aaron Fou Seng Phan

Alison Fuji Phillips

LaRahn Nathan Phillips

*Rebecca Phuong

Gian Patrick Pickell

*Jamison Lee Pines

Rayana Janae Pitts Godfrey

Emerald Carnisha Lynn Pollard

Agyei Cairo Rachal

*Usman Raheel

*Robert Michael Ramirez

Rani Shyla Ran

Jasmine Randhawa

Edgar Rosales Rangel

Arjun Lemar Rawls

*Martin Gilbert Reimer

*Lea Jean Roberts

Michael David Robertson

David Antonio Rojas

*Diana Guadalupe Rojas

*Irene Lucia Rojas Carroll

*Dylan Alton Romaine

Jessica Sue Roque

Daniel Asher Sadlier

Nuha Ibrahim Saidosman

Andrew David Saindon

Ratidzo Stephanie Sakutukwa

Marcos Salazar

Jennifer Janina Salgado

Leilani Rose Salvador

Margarita Susana Sanchez

Paul David Sanchez

*Layla Michelle Sanders

Nicholas Ko Sanith

Miguel Nieves Santos

Hawthorne Michael Schiff

Bhavna Sharma

*Neha Sharma

*Tiffany Chai Shem

*Jagroop Signh

*Jobanpreet Singh

Jimmy Singharath

*Evan Michael Sirchuk

Tyler Marquel Smalls

Diamond Moniece Smith

*Gabriel Michael Smith

Karollyne Souza

Grey Anne Steinmeyer

Monica Danielle Stolte

Christian Shaquille Streets

*Yasra Hussain Syed

Paris Danielle Sykes

Bobby Syvanthong

Gilirene Mae Refugia Tabor

Jack Thammavong

Sashi Bhushan Thapaliya

Joanna Janay Thomas

Wyatt Hugh Tong

*Suzanna Tran

Cristian Alexander Valdivieso

Eric Daniel Vasquez

Precious Roche Shawndijia Vasquez

Jose Rafael Vela Fukuhara

Gerardo Verdin

Rebecca Dennise Viera

Angelica Ann Vilavanh

Trevell Jordan Wallace

*Yasmeen Hesham Wally

Briana Patricia Washington

*Trudy Kay Westby

Brionna Nicole White

*Michael Allyn Whittemore

Jerrell Bernard Wilkerson

Alexis Rochelle Williams

Contiasha Rene Williams

Dominique Lindtrell Williams

Jakari Kahlil Williams

Javari Jahmil Williams

Nelson Grayland Windbush

*Eric Wong

*Timothy Wing Fu Wong

Dillard Alexander Worthen

Alondrick  Wright

Erik Andrew Wright

*Ding Rui Xue

*Brian Lee Yannayon

*Laura Yip

*Lisa Yip

*Amy Jan Yu

Cynthia Yusuf

Mariana Tiemroth Zavala