July 8, 2008

Pomp and Circumstance

Westmont grads look to future

296 students graduated from Westmont High School on June 12 in the school’s football bowl. (Photos by Julie Davis Berry)

Underneath sweltering hot blue skies, Westmont High School’s football stadium was the scene of excitement and pride on June 12 as more than 4,000 friends and family filled the stands to cheer the 296 graduates of Westmont’s 2008 class.

Principal Owen Hege shared a personal story of his younger son who struggled with school, sported a Mohawk and dropped out to pursue independent studies, but who later went on to graduate from the University of Boulder with honors, and is now pursuing a master’s degree at grad school in New York. “Everyone has their own path,” said Hege.

After the ceremony, Hege was proud to pose for pictures with many of the students. “This is a friendly group of kids,” said Hege, referring to the entire graduating class. “There was really a range of kids but they were enthusiastic and cooperative and it was fun to watch their growth through the four years.

Making the grade

2008 Del Mar Dons celebrate graduating milestone

Today is the first day of the rest of your life—author unknown

Del Mar High School celebrated the accomplishments and wished graduating seniors the world of possibilities at the June 12 commencements.

Del Mar junior girls held the flowered arches where graduating seniors entered the quad area for the last time. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“Sometimes high school is thought of as something to get through before your real life starts,” said Campbell Union High School District Director of Support Services John Nolen who gave the keynote address at his 1967 alma mater. “You should be so proud.”

And proud they should be as Valedictorian Hien Khanh Huynh received the Country Woman’s Club of Campbell scholarship. But she was not alone as 71 other students received scholarships and awards of the 231 graduating seniors. But all of the Del Mar students celebrated their accomplishment of graduating from high school and entering adulthood with the well wishes of family and friends who crowded the quad area.

“We’re so excited today,” said junior Jeannette Vasquez who participated in holding Del Mar’s flowered arches where seniors entered the quad for their final day of high school. “Now we’re seniors!”

An unknown author once wrote “this is the first day of the rest of your life.” No truer words can be spoken as Del Mar grads enter the next phase of their life. We wish them the best.

—Jeanne C. Carbone

Del Mar High School’s 2008 seniors celebrated graduation with pomp and circumstance.

Veritas Christian Academy holds first high school graduation

By Greg Hardie
Special to the Times

Veritas Christian Academy, which opened its doors just four years ago, celebrated the graduation of its first senior class with commencement exercises on June 14, at First Baptist Church of Campbell, where the school has rented space for the past three years.

Courtney Hunt, valedictorian, bids a final farewell to the first senior graduating class of Veritas Christian School. Photos by Traci Young

Graduates of the full high school program included: Aaron Matthew Flores, honor student; Courtney Lynn Hunt, valedictorian; Ruth Melissa Sam; and Christopher William Wallace, salutatorian, honor student and National Merit Commended Student. Graduating from the Veritas Christian Academy Independent Study Program was Andrew Marshall. Flores, Sam and Wallace also lettered in basketball this year, VCA’s first as a member of the Bay Area Christian Athletic League.

Veritas Christian School’s Chris Wallace was salutatorian for the first graduating class.

All students completed a course of study that included courses typically required by local high schools, plus a year each of logic and rhetoric, at least two years of Latin, and bible courses all four years. In addition, honor students completed a third year of Latin, a second year of rhetoric and a fourth year of math.

Dr. Peter Wallace, pastor of Michiana Covenant Church in Granger, Indiana, was the featured speaker. All five graduates also had the opportunity to address the 160 family members and friends who were in attendance. Marshall read a bible passage, Sam presented a special thank-you to the parents of the graduates, Flores provided a humorous look back at their time at VCA, Wallace gave the salutatorian address, and Hunt gave the valedictorian address. The presentation of diplomas was made by school founder and board president David Wallace.

Veritas Christian Academy has grown from a single 9th-grade classroom of eight students in 2004-05 to a full K-12 program that just completed its fourth year with a total of 51 students.

Greg Hardie is the headmaster of Veritas Christian Academy.