Friday, June 27, 2008
VUSD Students graduate from continuation high schools
Other graduation ceremonies may have been bigger, but for about 100 students at two of Vista Unified School District's smaller high schools, getting their diploma Friday meant just as much ---- if not more.
Many of the students who graduated from the district's two continuation high schools Friday morning were on the verge of dropping out, which made finishing high school feel like an even bigger achievement, some students said.
"A lot of us thought we weren't going to make it through our senior year," said Danny Martinez, who graduated from Maj. Gen. Raymond Murray High School.
Some of the students will be the first in their families to graduates. Others plan to be the first to go to college.
There was also another first Friday, because Murray High School was holding its first graduation ceremony.
"The school's a winner," said Zona Murray, wife of the highly decorated Marine general that the school was named after. "Wouldn't the general have been so proud?"
The school opened last year to relieve some of the overcrowding at Alta Vista High School, the district's other continuation high school.
The two schools serve students who have fallen too far behind in credits to graduate from one of the district's two main high schools. Many of these students ---- known as "super seniors" ---- need an extra year to graduate. Others just need an extra push.
Michel Verduzco, who graduated from Alta Vista High School as a fifth-year senior, was one of those students.
Verduzco said he fell behind at Vista High School because of laziness. When he moved to Alta Vista a year ago, the more personal interaction with teachers helped him turn his attitude around, he said.
"I was told I couldn't do it, and I came (to Alta Vista) with the mentality that I wanted to prove that I could," he said.
Now, Verduzco said he plans to go to Palomar College to study criminal justice.
Daniela Olmos, attended Alta Vista's celebration Friday to cheer on her brother, Samuel Olmos. She said she was very proud that her brother pushed himself to graduate even though he's not a "school guy."
"He did it for mom and pops," she said.
The ceremony at Murray High School was a boisterous occasion with plenty of camera flashes and cheers ---- and some joyful tears, as well.
"I feel famous," graduate Karla Covarrubias said about the fanfare.
Covarrubias said that seeing her friends finish high school motivated her to push forward herself, She said she hopes her diploma will help inspire others who may have fallen behind.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, more than 50 students graduated from Palomar High School, the district's independent study program. The 125-student school shares a campus with Alta Vista in northern Vista.
Class valedictorian Taylor Martin said he loved his four years at Palomar, but was excited to be moving on to MiraCosta College next semester.
"Today, we are a success story," he said at Thursday's ceremony. "We are graduates."
Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com