Page 8 - Dinuba Sentinel 6-6-19 E-Edition

A8 | Thursday, June 6, 2019 Back Page
The Dinuba Sentinel
Graduates
Continued from Page A1
the high honor of Magna Gum Laude (GPA of 4.2 to 4.29) and nine received the honor of Cum Laude (4.01 to 4.19)
Earning the title of Summa Cum Laude were Jackie Gallardo Beltran, Lesli Magdaleno Martinez, Stephania Velasquez Cortes, Karina Vieyra, Madisyn Skye Sylvester, Edna Villacana-Madrigal and Isabella Celine Gonzalez.
Achieving Magna Cum Laude were Liliana
Dinuba High School graduate Michael Rivera waves to family and friends at Thursday's 117th Commencement Ceremony. Once again, it was a packed house at Claude Hebert Stadium as over 400 students graduated from Dinuba High School this year.
Toscano, Ashley Vargas Cabada, Jacob Damian Rodriguez, Mariam Ali Almoraissi Alawgeri, Makayla Siria Gonzalez and Carlos Manuel Hernandez.
Honored with Cum Laude were Alexis Celeste Torres, Whitley Illissa Nix, Lauryn Maria Paredez, Brenda Gutierrez Gutierrez, Nora Josephine Cabrera Blanco, Danielle Mendoza, Victoria Saldana Sanchez, Matthew Tyler Martinez and
Carmen Stephanie Reyes-Parra.
Giving the Valedictorian addresses were Leslie
Magdaleno Martinez, Stephanie Velasquez Cortes and Jackie Gallardo Beltran.
Magdaleno Martinez spoke directly to her classmates as she told them, “Our time here together as a senior class will not be remembered by grades, popularity or looks but by relationships, the memories and our accomplishments.”
She pointed out how all of those before her have accomplished something in a way unique to them and went to list the achievements of the Class of 2019 over the past school year. Listed were several athletics programs that made it to the playoffs, football, baseball, volleyball, girls’ basketball and soccer. Several teams also made it all the way to the Valley Championship, such as boys’ basketball, softball, cross country and track. She highlighted that the boys’ basketball team also played at the state level. Valley championships were won by the Dinuba High Cross Country team and the cheer squad.
Also mentioned was one Dinuba High wrestler, Daniel Long, who was the first in school history to win Valley in Div. I and place at the state level.
Magdaleno Martinez also mentioned the accomplishments of the school’s FFA department, the HOSA club, Choir Department and Band, Drumline and Color guard.
She ended her speech by reminding her fellow students, “In life, what we’re about is being in the moment and making the moments count.”
Velasquez Cortes reminded the class, “Today we are one step closer to achieving our dreams.”
Having only been in the states for four years now, migrating when she was just 13, Velasquez Cortes climbed the ranks of her class while simultaneously
learning the English language. She graduated with the second highest grade point average in her class. She first thanked the teachers and staff at Dinuba High School for guiding them along their
four-year journey.
“Thank you for unselfishly sharing your
time, talent and knowledge with us,” she expressed. “You went above and beyond to make sure every lesson was understood.” She also thanked the coaches and advisors for making school more than just about academics.
In thanking the parents in the audience, Velasquez Cortes spoke to them in her first language of Spanish and thanked them for supporting them in their efforts, even after long hours of work.
"Some of you may speak another language,” she told the Spanish-speaking parents (translated from Spanish) “But in spite of that, you figured out how to keep us moving forward.”
To her classmates, Velasquez Cortes said, “Today, this is a culmination of our high school career, but it is not the end. It is only the beginning of what is ahead waiting for us.”
In the final Valedictorian address, Gallardo Beltran addressed the time she and her classmates have experienced over the years.
“Many of us have lived in Dinuba our whole lives,” she told the Class of 2019. “Which means we’re graduating with people who have been beside us for much more than four years.”
In expressing the achievements of many who may be the first in their family to attend college, she said, “We’ve created amazing opportunities for ourselves, whatever they may be, that our parents or we never imagined. We’re going to do really big things.”
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Dinuba High athletes honor Veterans with ag detail
Israel Gomez recieves the Attitude, Attendance, Achievement Award from WIS Principal Dr. Jesse Sanchez. Also receiving the award were Michael Acosta, left, and Brianna Nava.
Thunderbirds promoted
we believe in you.”
Sanchez’s core message to the students was
that, regardless of where they go in life, they out to show gratitude.
Said Sanchez, “By saying ‘good morning and thank you’ with a smile it will serve as your foundation and your vehicle for showing gratitude... Saying ‘good morning’ means your ready for the day and you want others to feel hopeful as well. Saying ‘thank you’ shows respect and dignity. And a smile can make a big difference in a busy and complex world.”
Several students received awards at the Promotion Ceremony. Marcos Nunez and Jaqueline Hernandez were honored with the American Legion Award, Sydney Vela received the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, Angel Bautista and Diamond Castro received the Charles Manoogian Memorial Award, Rebecca Blas Sanchez and Angel Montes Cabellero were given the T-Bird Pride Award and Nicholas Carrion and Ana Zavala Alcantar received the Rudy Award.
The final award was the Attitude, Attendance and Achievement Award where three students were the recipients. Those students were Michael Acosta, Brianna Nava and Israel Gomez.
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Washington Intermediate School held their 2019 Promotion Ceremony last Wednesday, May 29, on their east lawn as proud parents and relatives celebrated the achievements of those now heading off to receive their high school education.
Promotion speakers included students Bryan Duran, Jose Rodriguez-Paniagua and Lauryn Sotelo, as well as a message from Dinuba Mayor Dr. Kuldip Thusu and WIS Principal Dr. Jesse Sanchez.
In addressing the students, Thusu urged the students to learn the technology that will continue to drive the world of the future.
“You guys are our future,” Thusu reminded them. “We depend on you.
Sanchez asked them to take advantage of four simple words in their daily lives.
“Good morning and thank you,” Sanchez repeated as he opened his message. “My hope is that you would echo the same words and own them today, tomorrow and forever.”
“We know what you have accomplished,” he added. “We know of your potential. We know there’s greatness inside of you. And, therefore,
Photo contributed by Carlos Barajas | Special to the Sentinel
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
If you attended last week's Memorial Day service at Smith Mountain Cemetery and wondered how all those flags were put into place, above is the answer. Over the last several years, athletes from the Dinuba High School have volunteered to put up the US flags for the annual Memorial Day Service. This year, they arrived at 7:30 a.m. to put up flags and returned at 2 p.m. to take them down.
"It's nice to see our sports teams up for a good cause," said new Dinuba High football coach Carlos Barajas.
Athletes from the high school's football, wrestling, baseball and girls volleyball helped with the flags. They are pictured above with their coaches.
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