Azusa Unified Graduations Celebrate Academic Excellence, Overcoming Adversity

More than 650 Azusa Unified students this week celebrated the culmination of their high school journeys, including those who have struggled to overcome challenges to become top academic achievers. The June 4 commencement ceremonies for Azusa and Gladstone High schools and the June 2 graduation celebration for Sierra High, all held at Azusa Pacific University’s Felix Event Center, represented a passage into adulthood and higher education.

AUSD Class of 2015 grads this year earned more than $1.6 million in scholarships, with nearly 75 percent of students committing to two- or four-year colleges. They were accepted into such notable universities as Notre Dame, Occidental, Harvey Mudd, Whittier and New York University, as well as 18 Cal State universities and eight UC campuses. The area’s community colleges are well represented, with students committed to attending Citrus, Mt. San Antonio, Pasadena City, Los Angeles Trade Technical and Santa Monica colleges.

“We salute our distinguished, exceptional students for their great achievements and we are thankful for our enthusiastic faculty and staff who illustrate perfectly the spirit and tenacity at Azusa Unified School District,” AUSD Superintendent Dr. Linda Kaminski said. “Best wishes to our Class of 2015.”

GLADSTONE HIGH SCHOOL
Gladstone High School celebrated 282 graduates, including Shirley Carrillo, who at 13 began suffering from severely limited vision. With bold self-determination and invaluable assistance from Azusa Unified’s Program for the Visually Impaired, Carrillo adjusted her lifestyle, joined the school choir and swim team, while developing into a school leader and advocate for the physically disabled. Carrillo looks forward to studying communications at Cal State Los Angeles after receiving a $1,000 Julie Inman Courage Scholarship.

“I am proud to look back and see what I have accomplished and how I have grown,” Carrillo said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of the VI program and, especially, my guidance counselor, Jenee Corum.”

AZUSA HIGH SCHOOL
Azusa High School proudly awarded 334 graduates with their high school diplomas. This included Sonia Moreno, who before reaching Azusa High had filtered through four different high schools as she coped with familial issues and nearly dropped out of school. Upon arriving at AHS, Moreno was immediately taken in by the camaraderie of her new classmates and the vested interest in her academic well-being by the counseling staff.

Eventually, Moreno enrolled in nine classes a day and earned a 4.0 grade point average. Earlier this year, Moreno received a $22,000 Horatio Alger National Scholarship, which will be matched by Carleton College in Minnesota, where she will study math and physics in the fall.

“I knew right away it would work out at Azusa,” Moreno said. “Everyone here is so helpful and friendly. I leave the school with much gratitude for all of the wonderful assistance I have received.”

SIERRA HIGH SCHOOL
In 2015, Sierra High once again earned recognition as a state Model Continuation School, a designation it has held since 2005. Sierra students were high achievers, receiving over $7,000 in scholarships such as those provided by the Extended Slauson Family and the United Mexican American Youth Association.

In a graduating class of 59 students, one third were recognized for Honors, High Honors or academic achievements. Graduates had the opportunity to select one educator who made a positive impact on their K-12 experience. The educators were invited to stand in support of the students during the commencement ceremony and were also recognized in the program.

“I will never forget what my English teacher, Ms. Oldaker, said to me – ‘Luck favors a prepared mind,’” said Stephany Villagomez, one of three student speakers at the ceremony. “That is the best advice I have ever received. It has made all the difference in the world to me.”

Already, the District is looking forward to what 2015-16 will bring.

“Our mission is to prepare students for their next steps in life,” AUSD Board President Yolanda Rodriguez-Peña said. “Every student has their own unique path and we will be there to guide them through until the end. I am so proud of each and every one of our 2015 graduates and I can’t wait to see what they achieve in the future.”