Estrellita graduates ready to soar toward goals
Amid the shouts and cheers of family and friends Tuesday in the Littleton Community Center in Galt, Estrellita High School’s largest graduating class turned the tassels on their mortarboards and began life after high school.
Before presenting diplomas to the 39 graduates, Principal Antonio Lara compared the ceremony to an eagle — the school’s mascot — taking its first flight from the peak of a mountain.
“Never having flown before, it finds itself facing its greatest challenge. But the eagle launches itself and it begins to fly ... . Tonight you are here the same way — you’re here to fly away,” he said to the graduating class.
Garry Mendoza, of Lodi, said he will rely on family for support as he begins on a path toward a career as a cosmetologist.
“I’m hesitant of what’s to come, but other than that it will be fine,” said Mendoza, who was given an award for school pride at the ceremony.
Many of the graduates overcame added challenges to reach graduation day.
Francisco Zamora, who started at the school in December 2003, completed a semester’s worth of credits each quarter to get the 170 he needed to graduate, one of his teachers said. Three of this year’s students — Zamora, Lisa Cheatam and Michelle Lozoya — graduated as juniors and 17 took diplomas as returning seniors, the largest number yet to do so, Lara said.
“These kids were really high achievers ... . They never really lost pace on what they were doing, staying on top of their credit-earning,” Lara said.
The total number of graduates for the Class of 2005 is 49, but 10 received diplomas prior to the ceremony, Lara said.
After the ceremony, the graduates, clad in forest green gowns, met with family and friends outside of the community center, some handing off babies to pose for pictures.
“Thank God. It’s over — the last one,” exclaimed Deann Rippy, whose daughter, Lindsey Rippy, is enrolling in nursing school at San Joaquin Delta College.
Of the 39 graduates, several were honored at the ceremony with $500 scholarships for their accomplishments at the school, which assists students behind in credits.
Arthur Cordova, who is studying law enforcement at San Joaquin Delta College, received a scholarship from a Galt High School alumni group. Zamora and Kimberly Haines received scholarships from the Galt Lions Club. Lyndsay Peters and Javier Montanez received the Galt Rotary Club scholarship. Lakesha Kirklin and Edgar Navarro received $300 scholarships from the high school’s staff.
Special recognitions were also made at the ceremony.
Lindsay Peters, who is going into nursing, was given the Citizenship Award; Kirklin received the Leadership Award; and Cheatam and Zamora received the Teacher’s Award.
Five of the graduates presented the school’s staff with a metal sculpture of an eagle to hang in the school’s main office.
Contact reporter Jake Armstrong at jakea@lodinews.com.