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37 receive diplomas at Estrellita High School graduation

By Ripley Howe
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Outreach Consultant Sonya Limon, second from left, and Secretary/Registrar Jeanne Bullard, right, are caught in a quick pre-graduation hug from Ragan Beebe, left, and Gordon Bice, right, at the Estrellita High School graduation June 2 at Littleton Community Center in Galt. (J. Paul Bruton/News-Sentinel)

The ceremony at the Littleton Center in Galt was brief and to the point.

And when it was over, 37 new Estrellita High School graduates had received their diplomas and flipped their tassels from left to right.

"It feels great," said graduate Estrella Vidauri-Romo. "Most of all, I did it for my son."

Vidauri-Romo said she plans to attend college in the fall and take hairdressing courses, but she has not yet decided on a school. She is considering school in Sacramento and Stockton, but first she'll have to get a car.

"I am so happy," she said.

Vidauri-Romo received the school's citizenship award. She said she is not sure what she did to earn the award, but thinks it may have to do with her persistence.

"I never gave up," she said.

Dressed in brilliant emerald green robes, the graduates stood before a packed house at the Galt community center.

Galt Joint Union High School District trustee Dennis Richardson spoke before the diplomas were handed out. He said he had put 10 children through Galt High School.

"But number nine was struggling," he said.

As he told how his child had succeeded after graduation from Estrellita, Richardson's voice began to break, and his emotion and appreciation for the school was evident.

As Principal Tony Lara read the name of each graduate's name to come and pick up their diploma, nearly every one elicited an enthusiastic roar from the crowd.

After stepping down from the stage, the students received their diplomas and shook hands with Lara and each of the district board members, Pat Maple, Sue Roberts, Ben Cox Jr., Gary Silva and Richardson.

In deference to the 97-degree heat of the day, at least one of the male graduates was wearing shorts and sandals under his graduation robe. From below his green robe, his bare calves and open-toed sandals added a distinctly toga-like element to the outfit.

Outside, graduate Salvador Gamez said he had fun in his time at Estrellita.

Gamez said he plans to go to San Joaquin Delta College in the fall to take courses to become an automobile mechanic. The reason for his choice of career is a simple one.

"I enjoy working on motors," he said.

Lara said this year's graduating class was marked by one defining quality.

"More than any of the other grades, these guys had a lot of leadership," he said. "These were kids where you could assign them a task and then just leave them on it."

Lara added that the group had taken part in a number of field trips, and they had requested to take part in leadership conferences.

"They were very focused on that," he said.

The class had also done landscaping work at the school, and had developed and created the large mural that now graces the outside of the school building.

In addition to the diplomas, four awards were given, and two students received scholarships.

Awards were handed out to Lisa Fang and Anthony Davis, who shared the School Pride Award. Paul Ramirez received the Debbie Carson Memorial Leadership Award, and George Lopez took home both the Academic Achievement Award and the Teachers Award. Estrella Vidauri-Romo earned the Citizenship Award.

Two Estrellita students received scholarships.

Eulalia Ocampo received the Galt Lions Club Scholarship, and George Lopez was awarded the Jason Hall Memorial Scholarship.

After the brief diploma ceremony, Lara brought the ceremony to a close with the words the new graduates were waiting to hear.

"I bring you the Class of 2003," Lara said.

And a while few mortarboards went up and bounced off of the community center's low ceiling, these young adults were happy.

Happy for their accomplishment, happy to be with their friends and families, and happy to be finished with high school.